11th Street story 52 1951

Robert Frank created this photographic work, "11th Street story 52," using a camera and film. The final image is the result of a darkroom process. The nature of photography involves the exploitation of a chemical reaction to capture light. Here, we see Frank’s use of the camera to capture everyday life, documenting slices of urban experience. What makes it particularly compelling is the raw, almost diaristic quality of the work. The film strip format itself becomes a narrative device. Each frame, a moment captured, contributes to a larger story. Frank was keen to emphasize the work involved in taking photographs, particularly with the printing of these films, to expose and develop them, and his art was in the way he brought it to life. Ultimately, this work pushes the boundaries of art, it draws attention to the labor involved in its creation, and invites us to reconsider the role of photography as a medium for storytelling and social commentary.