Billiards no number 1955 - 1956

This is Robert Frank’s photographic work, "Billiards no number" of unknown date. Its physical form as a contact sheet brings the viewer into the darkroom and Frank’s working process. The rows of frames present multiple angles and perspectives, leading to a fragmented, non-linear narrative. The high contrast and grainy texture contribute to the gritty, raw aesthetic, typical of Frank’s style. The composition invites us to consider how sequences of images might construct meaning, challenging the idea of a singular, definitive photograph. Frank’s use of the contact sheet transforms the method of photography into an art form. The rows act as a structural grid, and each frame is a modular element. The composition challenges traditional notions of photographic composition and authorship. Through its form and content, the work prompts questions about the nature of photography itself. It suggests an ongoing dialogue between the photographer, the subject, and the viewer, where meaning is not fixed, but emerges through the act of viewing and interpretation.