Nixon campaign 23 1960

Robert Frank’s ‘Nixon campaign 23’ is a photographic contact sheet, exposing the raw process of image selection. The monochrome palette and gritty textures create a stark, documentary feel. What strikes me is the red marker, a candid yet deliberate intrusion, which boxes a frame like a spotlight. It's like a painterly gesture, isolating a moment, injecting intention into the sea of exposures. That single act transforms the sheet. It nudges us to consider not just the images themselves, but the photographer's subjective gaze, his choices, and the story he's piecing together. It reminds me of John Baldessari's work, where he would paint over or obscure parts of photographs to shift their meaning. Ultimately, 'Nixon campaign 23' highlights how art is as much about selection and interpretation as it is about capturing a moment.