Guggenheim 324--Memphis, Tennessee to near McGehee, Arkansas 1955

Robert Frank captured this contact sheet of photographs between Memphis, Tennessee, and near McGehee, Arkansas. Among these frames, the classical columns stand out, their capitals adorned with the volute—a spiral motif echoing ancient Ionic architecture. This volute, a symbol of intellect and spirit, finds its origins in the horns of sacred bulls of ancient Mesopotamia. It recurs across cultures, adorning temples and signifying divine presence. In Frank's modern context, these columns appear in a vernacular roadside setting, perhaps a bank or municipal building, seemingly stripped of their original sacred power. Yet, the subconscious impact remains; the volute continues to evoke feelings of authority, order, and historical continuity. Consider the psychological weight of such forms, how collective memory embeds itself in these recurring motifs. The spiral, as a symbol, is an ancient one, and its continual, cyclical re-emergence speaks to the enduring need to evoke power through familiar cultural symbols.