On the "Liberte" going to America--Paris 21B 1952

Robert Frank created this photographic work, titled "On the 'Liberte' going to America--Paris 21B," using film and gelatin silver print. This choice of material and process is significant: Frank, like other photographers, relied on industrial manufacturing to pursue his art. The filmstrip format emphasizes the sequential nature of photography, a series of moments captured and assembled. Frank’s technique involved using a handheld camera and available light, resulting in grainy, high-contrast images. These qualities became his signature style, departing from the clean, staged photography that was then the norm. The work shows us the journey of the 'Liberte' ship and the people on board, but it also tells a story of photographic labor and the modern means of production that enabled his distinct vision. Frank’s embrace of these materials and techniques challenged traditional notions of fine art, showing that even everyday processes could yield profound artistic expression.