Woman/Paris 1952

Robert Frank shot 'Woman/Paris' with his camera at an unknown date. This image has such incredible tonality, running from the almost pure white of the dress to the impenetrable black of the background. I’m drawn to the woman's fur stole, its texture so palpable you could almost reach out and touch it. The way Frank captures the subtle gradations of light and shadow reminds me of chiaroscuro in Baroque painting. There’s a real drama to the scene. It's hard to say exactly what the narrative is here, but there's something in the framing that seems to be about the artist, peering into a world of wealth and high fashion, or is it the other way round? Looking at it, I'm reminded of Helen Levitt's street photography, there's the same interest in capturing fleeting moments of everyday life, elevated to the status of art. And, like Levitt’s work, this photograph reminds me that art is not about answers, but about asking questions.