Subway no number 1955

This is Robert Frank's 'Subway no number,' a photo that captures a series of moments, perhaps from the late 50s, early 60s, that together, create a bigger scene. I imagine Frank riding the subway himself, maybe even every day, trying to capture the feeling of being underground with all those people going places. What I love about this, is that the image isn’t one perfect shot. Instead, we are seeing the work that goes into making the image, the outtakes, and the framing. When I look at these grainy, contrast-y images, I feel like I'm eavesdropping on the past, it reminds me that photography, like painting, is never just about the surface. Frank is one of those artists that makes you think about what it means to see and to be seen. And that's what keeps us all talking to each other, across time.