Subway portraits--Early New York City no number c. early 1950s

These small prints by Robert Frank give us a glimpse into a New York City subway carriage. I imagine Frank riding the subway himself, with his camera held at the ready. He’s trying to be invisible, but he’s also deeply curious, watching people on their commutes. His eye catches those small human details, an anonymous person reading their paper or cradling a baby. There is almost something performative about how these people seem to sit in the frame, as if they are acting out a play. The graininess of the film reminds me of the visual language of the time, the black and white and the documentary photography. It's cool, raw, and emotional. Frank's work has influenced generations of artists. He reminds us that the everyday is deeply political and that art can be found in the most unexpected places. Artists like Frank have paved the way for many other photographers and painters to consider the human condition, and that conversation is still happening.