Actors before birdcage--Filming 1941 - 1942

This gelatin silver print, "Actors before birdcage--Filming," was created by Robert Frank, most likely in the 1950s. Frank became known for his outsider’s perspective on American society. This image presents a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a film, a commentary on the constructed nature of reality. The actors, caught in profile, are separated by a birdcage that perhaps symbolizes the constraints of their roles, or the artificiality of the world they inhabit. Made in the USA, this photograph invites reflection on the performative aspects of everyday life. To understand this work more fully, we might look into the history of filmmaking in America, or the cultural symbolism of birds and cages. It’s through this kind of historical and cultural research that the full significance of Frank’s image begins to emerge.