Convention 25/Americans 3--Political rally, Chicago 1956

Robert Frank’s film contact sheet shows us images taken at a political rally in Chicago. It’s a collection of moments, a jumble of exposures, where the process of photography is laid bare. I’m drawn to the fourth row from the top, where glimpses of a poster with a cartoonish figure peer out between window frames. The halftone dots of the image are visible and the multiple frames create a sense of depth and layering. The contrast is stark, almost gritty, like a photocopy. This area is especially interesting because the composition created by the window frames make the poster resemble a series of animation frames. Frank’s work, like all great art, is part of an ongoing conversation. Think of the German photographer, August Sander, who also aimed to document society through portraiture. Both artists use the camera to reveal the human condition, albeit through different lenses and historical contexts. Ultimately, this work reminds us that art is about questioning, exploring, and embracing ambiguity.