Butcher shop window, Paris 1951

Robert Frank made this black and white photograph of a butcher shop window in Paris. The hanging meat carcasses in the window appear like these heavy, hulking forms, looming and grotesque. I imagine Frank wandering through the Parisian streets, drawn to this scene, perhaps struck by the strange juxtaposition of life and death displayed so openly. The image feels like a raw, visceral snapshot of urban life. The stark contrasts and grainy texture add to the sense of immediacy and grit. It’s not just a photograph of meat; it’s a meditation on mortality. The silhouetted figures walking by seem oblivious, lost in their own worlds. Painters like Soutine and Bacon come to mind, those who weren't afraid to confront the grotesque. But here Frank captures something unique: the quiet, everyday horror of existence. It's a reminder that life, like art, is often messy, uncomfortable, and deeply unsettling.