Mountain stream--Landscape 1941 - 1945

This silver gelatin print of a mountain stream was created by Robert Frank, a Swiss-American photographer known for his raw and often unconventional style. Frank emerged as a significant figure in the post-war era, a time marked by profound social and political shifts. Frank’s work often explored themes of alienation and displacement, reflecting the anxieties of a rapidly changing society. In his series *The Americans*, he traveled across the United States, capturing images of everyday life that revealed a stark contrast between the American dream and the realities of social inequality. As an immigrant himself, Frank was acutely aware of the complexities of American identity, particularly the racial tensions that simmered beneath the surface of post-war prosperity. Consider how the cascading water and dense foliage might mirror the overwhelming nature of societal forces, and how they shape individual experiences. With its contrast and shadow, the photograph invites us to reflect on the hidden currents that run through our own lives.