Museum of Natural History no number c. 1960

Robert Frank created this photographic contact sheet, "Museum of Natural History no number," likely in the late 1950s or early 1960s in the United States. This work encapsulates Frank’s interest in how institutions shape our understanding of the world. The images, captured within the American Museum of Natural History, depict visitors, particularly children, gazing into display cases. The museum, an institution designed to educate and preserve, becomes a stage upon which Frank examines themes of observation and interpretation. Frank's choice of the museum setting raises questions about the nature of knowledge, the way we look, and the power dynamics inherent in the act of viewing. We might ask: What are these children learning, and who controls the narrative? To understand Frank’s work fully, we need to consider the social and political context of mid-20th century America. By researching the history of the museum and the cultural values it promoted, we can better understand Frank’s critical perspective.