Dodgers and Yankee fans--New York no number 1956

Robert Frank made this contact sheet, Dodgers and Yankee fans--New York no number, using a camera and film. It’s a peek into his process, like seeing an artist's sketchbook, where the real work happens. The grainy texture and high contrast speak to Frank's in-the-moment style. Look at how the light flares above the crowd, almost obliterating them with its starkness, giving the image a sense of raw energy. There's a frame in the middle strip where a figure in a light coat seems to emerge, almost angelic amidst the dark suits. This work reminds me of what painters like Gerhard Richter were doing around the same time, blurring the line between photography and painting, showing the beauty in imperfection and the poetry of the everyday. Just like a painter layers brushstrokes, Frank layers images, inviting us to find our own story within the frame.