Wales 54 1953

Robert Frank created "Wales 54" without a specified date, using photographic film. Frank, a Swiss-American photographer, is known for his raw, documentary-style photography, which often captured the emotional undercurrents of post-war society. This piece, a contact sheet, offers a glimpse into Frank’s working process. The red markings guide us, but also suggest a negotiation between the photographer and his subjects. The images show families in domestic interiors and landscapes. These un-staged moments have a quiet, melancholic feel which resonates with Frank's own sense of displacement as an immigrant. Frank once said, “When people look at my pictures, I want them to feel the way they do when they want to read a line of poetry twice.” "Wales 54" captures the everyday, inviting viewers to contemplate the simple moments of life. The sequencing and selection reveal a narrative, a story of place, family, and the photographer's subjective experience.