Toy Ball C10 1954

Curator: This photomontage, "Toy Ball C10," captured by Robert Frank in 1954, is a striking example of street photography in the post-impressionist style. What's your initial reaction? Editor: My initial thought is that it is overwhelmingly dark! There is an atmosphere that feels simultaneously festive and oppressive. A fascinating juxtaposition. Curator: Exactly! The high contrast typical of Frank's work really amplifies the moodiness. Here we see strips of film – like uncut memories - showing snapshots of what seems to be an elegant social gathering, a sort of high-society event perhaps. Editor: It is more than just elegant; one gets the sense of intense labor, right? These perfectly arranged tables and decorations, the attire of the guests... It is easy to forget all of that requires labor. I am very interested in that juxtaposition. This aesthetic of elite leisure rests firmly upon hidden efforts. Curator: Absolutely. Frank's choice to present this event in strips also enhances that sentiment. Almost as though these beautiful instances are caught mid-motion, halfway developed and only partly revealed. It mirrors the labor aspect of the subject matter, this is all still "in process" and we're only viewing parts of a much larger story. What do you think about its significance in the context of Frank's larger body of work? Editor: Frank often grappled with capturing American life with an almost cynical tenderness. Seeing this work within the scope of materiality, it speaks to a kind of constructed fantasy. We see him question this idea of constructed leisure and success that permeates a particular class. It’s potent. Curator: It is that contrast, I think, that is truly enduring, the ability to express complex feelings with relatively raw imagery and arrangement. Editor: Precisely, these rough strips belie a deep commentary on both the means and the message that such elite environments exude. Food for thought!