Wellfleet 2 1962

Editor: This is "Wellfleet 2" by Robert Frank, made in 1962. It's a black and white photograph, presented as three strips of film. It feels raw and immediate, almost like we're seeing the artist's thought process. What can you tell me about it? Curator: As a materialist, what strikes me is how Frank makes visible the very means of photographic production. We see the film strip itself, normally a discarded element. He emphasizes the industrial process, reminding us that photography is both art and a manufactured product. What is being depicted here, if not also a testament to materials such as a film and print? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn’t considered that the presentation itself was part of the statement. I was so focused on what the images might be *of*. Do you think he’s commenting on the disposability of images in a consumer society, by literally presenting the leftovers? Curator: Precisely! It’s not just about what is photographed, but the *how*. What impact does choosing the seemingly "imperfect" material – the film strip - have on the viewer’s perception? Think about it. Also consider the labor involved. Film development wasn't instant then; it required darkrooms, chemicals, and skilled technicians. Editor: So, by showing the film strip, he's also acknowledging all that work that often goes unseen? It challenges the idea of the lone genius artist, right? Curator: Exactly! Frank compels us to think about photography as a physical process, involving specific materials and labor practices, and not just a disembodied act of creative inspiration. The ‘aura’ of the art shifts from the subject to how it was brought into being. Editor: I see. Looking at it now, presenting the filmstrips is like acknowledging the history of its production, imbuing the artwork with meaning about the artistic choices involved, not only aesthetic value, which I had initially emphasized. Thanks for the insight! Curator: It also makes you wonder what was edited out and how that could have been yet another form of art, just from its making.