Time clock, Universal Studios--Universal City, California 1956

Robert Frank captured this photograph of a time clock at Universal Studios in Universal City, California. It's all monochrome, full of greys, like a faded memory. The photo’s texture is grainy, a bit rough around the edges, which gives it this real, gritty feel. The clock and sign are sharp, but everything else is a little blurry. It's like time itself is out of focus. The sign that demands "You must sign your time card" is so stark. Think about how Chuck Close used to grid up his portraits, each square a little abstract painting, but together they made a face. This photo is kind of like that – each element, the clock, the sign, the shadowy figure behind, are all pieces of a larger commentary about time, labor, and the human condition. Frank is like a master of capturing those in-between moments.