Congressional AI c. 1954 - 1955

This is a photographic work by Robert Frank titled 'Congressional AI,' and it’s not dated, but we can still delve into its depths! It's made of strips of black and white film, mounted on a sheet. The grayscale palette, from deep blacks to soft grays, gives it a stark, documentary feel. You can almost hear the clatter of the camera shutter. The texture is inherent in the film itself, grainy and real. Frank’s process is laid bare here, with all the imperfections and happy accidents of the darkroom. Look closely at that red cross marked on one of the frames. It’s such a simple gesture, but it speaks volumes about editing and selection, about the choices an artist makes. Frank is inviting us into his process, letting us see the raw material and the critical eye with which he shapes it. Thinking about other artists, Bernd and Hilla Becher come to mind, also methodical and process oriented. Art is never made in a vacuum; it’s always a conversation, an ongoing exploration of ways of seeing and understanding the world.