Paris 19A 1949 - 1950

Robert Frank made this photographic contact sheet, Paris 19A. It looks like a document, almost like a sketchbook page. The film strips, arranged on the paper, give a sense of the editing process, the choices involved in image-making. Look at the handwritten markings, notes scribbled right onto the surface! It’s this kind of raw, personal mark-making that brings us closer to Frank's perspective, his way of seeing the world. The blacks are deep and rich, while the greys seem to shimmer, creating a moody atmosphere. It's like he's inviting us to wander the streets of Paris with him, to feel the grit and beauty of everyday life. The number ‘19’ with a swooping line is so gestural, it reminds me of Cy Twombly’s mark making. Both artists explore the boundary between intention and accident, inviting us to embrace the messy, imperfect nature of art and life. And isn’t that where the real beauty lies?