Family and Karen--New York City no number 1954

This 1954 photograph by Robert Frank, titled “Family and Karen—New York City no number,” is a contact sheet comprised of six strips of 35mm film. It depicts a series of snapshots of an unknown family captured on a New York City street, with the film’s progression revealing how Frank framed the scene. The contact sheet is a raw and candid glimpse into Frank’s photographic process and captures the immediacy of street photography. It allows the viewer to see the photographer’s decisions and the process of finding a final image, offering a unique perspective on the creation of a photograph. This piece is representative of Frank’s iconic photographic style, which often documented everyday life in an honest and unfiltered manner.