Denver, Colorado--Nixon campaign 9 1960

This gelatin silver print by Robert Frank captures the fervor of a Nixon campaign rally in Denver, Colorado. Notice the repetition of waving hands holding aloft banners. This gesture echoes across centuries, harking back to ancient Roman displays of power and triumph. Consider the raised hand: in antiquity, it symbolized authority, loyalty, and divine blessing. Yet, its meaning is fluid, capable of shifting into expressions of unity, defiance, or even aggression, as seen in Fascist salutes. Here, it embodies a collective hope, or perhaps a coerced enthusiasm. The act of waving, deeply embedded in our psyche, serves as a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. These symbols remind us that history is not linear, but a cyclical progression of forms and gestures that resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different contexts.