In Switzerland, 1944-46--to America, 1947 1941 - 1947

Robert Frank created this photographic grid between 1944 and 1947, using black and white film. This was the era of analogue photography, where the darkroom was a crucial site of making. Frank shot a variety of scenes. In each of the twenty-five frames, we see a different slice of life: landscapes, laborers, livestock. Together, they create a complex portrait of a place and time. Although photography is often thought of as an immediate medium, consider the labor invested here. The artist carefully selected each image, printed them, and arranged them. The darkroom processes – developing the film, making prints – are themselves highly skilled. Frank is editing reality, deciding what to include and exclude, constructing a narrative through juxtaposition. Ultimately, this work invites us to consider photography not just as a tool for documentation, but as a medium for actively shaping meaning. It underscores how artistic intention and craft shape our understanding of the world.