Early New York City no number 1947 - 1948

This photograph, “Early New York City no number,” from Robert Frank’s iconic “The Americans” series, is a contact sheet depicting various scenes from everyday life in New York City during the 1940s. The uncropped frames showcase a raw, candid aesthetic that defined Frank’s photographic style, capturing moments of urban life in a gritty and sometimes chaotic way. This contact sheet, composed of strips of film negatives, provides a unique glimpse into the photographer’s creative process, revealing the selection of images that Frank ultimately included in his groundbreaking photobook.