Family--New York City no number 1954

Robert Frank made this contact sheet called 'Family - New York City no number' at an unknown date. It's a little like looking over the artist's shoulder as he develops a thought, an idea, a feeling. What strikes me is the repetition of the images; this kind of seriality shows a dedication to process. Here Frank is teasing out something essential by shooting the same subject again and again. He’s not just snapping a picture, he’s working the image, and maybe working through something too. The grainy black and white gives it a documentary feel, but the intimacy of the subject matter complicates this. You get the sense of being right there, close to the soft fabric and the soft skin, as the mother lovingly attends to her child. It is like an unguarded, quotidian moment. Frank's work makes me think of other photographers who explore the poetics of the everyday, like Emmet Gowin. But Frank, like all great artists, has his own distinct voice, one that invites us to see the world with fresh eyes.