Bars no number 1955

This is Robert Frank's ‘Bars no number,’ it is a photographic work. I'm not sure when it was made but what strikes me about it is the process, the sense of searching. You know, I can imagine Frank, squinting through the viewfinder, one eye closed, as he shoots roll after roll of film. The world, passing by, outside the window or on the street. Here, the surface texture of the film itself is laid bare. The images are mostly dark with some lighter frames. It feels kind of sad and raw and honest. I bet Frank had a real connection to other photographers - I imagine them all talking shop and being inspired by one another. When I look at this, I also think about how all of us artists keep the conversation going across the ages. Each of us leaves our little mark.