On ship--New York to Paris no number 1949

Robert Frank made this gelatin silver print, called “On ship – New York to Paris no number,” at some point during his lifetime. I can imagine Frank on that ship, New York fading into the distance. What’s he thinking, looking through the lens? He's capturing not just the sails and the crowds, but also a sense of journey, of moving between worlds. The monochrome palette strips away the distraction of color, leaving only the essence of form and light. The film strip format is like a series of quick sketches, each frame a fleeting moment, a thought half-formed. There's a strong connection here with other photographers of his time, all wrestling with how to capture modern life. He probably looked at Walker Evans, who also had that documentary style, but Frank's got this raw, unfiltered energy. It’s like he's saying, "Here it is, the world as I see it, take it or leave it." Artists like Frank are always in conversation with each other, pushing boundaries, challenging what we think we know. Painting or photography, it’s all about finding your own way of seeing and making.