Convention hall—Chicago 1956

Robert Frank created this photograph, “Convention hall—Chicago,” using black and white film, a medium that, even in its heyday, evoked the past. It is a choice that highlights the image’s social context. Frank was Swiss, and his outsider status allowed him to cast a fresh gaze on American society. Here, three women are pictured at a convention, likely a political one, given the location. They appear to be enjoying themselves, dressed in their best, white gloves and cocktail glasses in hand. But Frank’s photograph is not purely celebratory. The image quality is grainy, almost furtive, and the setting is somewhat drab. There is a sense of unease, or at least, unglamour. In Frank’s hands, photography becomes a tool for social commentary, expanding its role beyond mere documentation to reveal the complexities and contradictions of American life. It is a potent reminder that materials and making processes are never neutral.