Flowers on sidewalk, Paris 1951

Robert Frank captured this image, 'Flowers on Sidewalk, Paris', with a camera. It’s all about value here, a study in greys. The photo shows flowers for sale on the side of a Parisian street. Look how the light falls on the cobblestones, the flowers in the foreground, and the shadowy figures further away. It’s a stark, yet beautiful composition. Frank isn't trying to pretty things up. Instead, he shows us the city with a casual yet critical eye, capturing a moment in time. The light and shadow create a mood, and the texture of the sidewalk adds a sense of realism. Frank's work shares some of that same on-the-road, documentary feel as someone like Walker Evans. Both artists looked at the world with an unvarnished eye, capturing everyday life as it is, in all its beauty and grit. There are no answers here, just observations, questions, and feelings. And that, for me, is what makes art so compelling.