Die Menschen (People) 25-34 1942 - 1946

Robert Frank's series of gelatin silver prints, titled Die Menschen (People) 25-34, captures scenes from his native Switzerland. Frank, a Swiss-American photographer, often used his lens to explore themes of identity and belonging, shaped by his own experiences as an outsider. In these images, we see crowds gathered beneath the Swiss flag. The repetition of the flag, a powerful symbol of national identity, prompts us to consider the complexities of collective identity and the sense of unity and exclusion it can create. Frank's photographs often delve into the nuances of everyday life, revealing the subtle tensions and contradictions within society. As Frank himself said, "There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment." The emotional weight of these images is palpable. They invite us to reflect on our own relationship to national identity, and the ways in which it shapes our sense of self and belonging.