Butcher shop window, Paris 1951

This is Robert Frank’s photograph of a butcher shop window in Paris, though when exactly, we don’t know. What strikes me is the layering of life, death, and commerce. The snow-covered car feels so heavy, like the world itself is pressing down. And then there's the raw meat hanging in the window, so exposed, and lifeless, yet also undeniably visceral. There's such a contrast between the cold, stark reality of the meat and the faded elegance of the shopfront. The textures, the grays, the way the light catches the snow. It's all so matter-of-fact, yet so deeply unsettling. It reminds me of Weegee, another photographer who captured the raw edges of life. Both artists saw beauty in the mundane, and weren't afraid to confront us with uncomfortable truths. It's a powerful reminder that art isn't always pretty, but it's always real.