Skier--Sports 1941 - 1945

Curator: Looking at this gelatin-silver print from around 1941 to 1945, titled "Skier--Sports" by Robert Frank, I’m immediately struck by a feeling of isolation amidst a crowd. Editor: Isolation, really? My eye is drawn to the community of skiers at the summit; it speaks to shared experiences and the culture of leisure in the mid-20th century. It seems dynamic! Curator: Perhaps, but the primary figure is positioned with his back to us. There’s a separation created by his perspective and stance, gazing outwards. What are we, as viewers, seeing? His solitude, perhaps. The backpack with straps appearing as angel wings might signal a spiritual quest? Editor: Interesting take! To me, it suggests a broader social context – recreational culture evolving during and after the war years, capturing the desire for escape amidst societal upheaval. Curator: Yes, but also the skier wears skulls on the sweater. It suggests a confrontation with death and impermanence, themes often subtly presented in landscape images. That single point of a church also feels significant, representing faith in the face of human struggles. Editor: And this brings a question forward. Robert Frank's photography is generally later than the date for this print, perhaps because he worked as a fashion photographer at this time, could he have had this picture at that time. Curator: Regardless the photographer used symbolism skillfully; look at the vast expanse of white balanced with these concentrated groups on the summit—life against the eternal. These could easily become universal metaphors for social anxieties experienced worldwide, presented during and post the war, of course. The weight that Robert Frank might carry while developing this piece should affect this meaning of art and influence society at the same time. Editor: Considering how the picture circulates within and beyond art galleries provides rich ways to interpret the role art plays within larger cultural narratives concerning freedom. We've opened a small window here onto those historical meanings, perhaps sparking further conversation among those who view it. Curator: Exactly, it's always thrilling when art reflects both the internal landscape of our spirits while speaking across different backgrounds.