Climbing with Pieter Dirk van der Poel, Canton of Valais 1944

This photograph titled Climbing with Pieter Dirk van der Poel, Canton of Valais was taken by Robert Frank. The way it’s shot, you're right there with the climber. I mean, can you feel the crisp mountain air? The grey tones really emphasize the texture and grit of the rock. It almost makes you want to reach out and touch it, feel its ruggedness. It’s interesting how the rope leads your eye, almost like a line in a drawing, up and around the composition, creating a path to follow, a journey of sorts. The climber’s boot, right there in the center, is so solid, like a keystone. Frank had a way of capturing everyday moments and turning them into something profound. Think of Walker Evans' stark documentation of the American South during the Depression, or maybe even some of the early modernist photographers, all experimenting with how to see the world anew. Art isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about asking the questions and allowing for endless possibilities.