Die Landwirtschaft (Farming) 1-12 1944 - 1946

Editor: Here we have Robert Frank's "Die Landwirtschaft (Farming) 1-12", a series of gelatin silver prints made between 1944 and 1946. I find this series immediately striking; it evokes a bygone era, where labor and nature were intertwined, and seems imbued with a sense of dignity and hardship. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It feels, doesn't it, like stumbling upon a memory, a collective, hard-won memory. Frank offers us a vision not just of farming, but of life interwoven with it. These images, these almost dreamlike frames, capture not just the physical act of farming but its soul, if you will. They ask us to contemplate our connection to the land. Tell me, what impression do you get from the workers' poses? Editor: They seem so stoic, almost monumental, yet the repetitive nature of the scenes highlights the relentless work. It’s as if their individual identities are blurred into the broader rhythm of the harvest. Curator: Precisely! It's both individual toil and collective experience rendered beautifully. Frank doesn't shy away from showing the strenuous side of things. It's a gritty romanticism if such a thing exists. What's more, consider that Frank was Swiss and these images were made during and just after the Second World War. Can that history possibly remain unseen when we examine these photos? Editor: Absolutely, it provides such a deeper meaning. I am left thinking about the crucial role of farming and those providing it to the society in times of need. Also, it encourages us to appreciate the sources of our daily provisions. Curator: Indeed! Frank has provided food for our thoughts, too, hasn't he? He really encapsulates a powerful reflection on humanity and its connection to the earth. A humble work imbued with timeless meaning. Editor: Thank you for your insights; it is incredibly enriching to perceive his work with this new historical context and social understanding.