Paris 56B 1951 - 1952

Robert Frank made this gelatin silver print, titled Paris 56B, at an unknown date. It's a contact sheet, revealing the artist's process. The material itself, gelatin silver, became the dominant medium for photography due to its high sensitivity to light and ease of mass production. In this work, the rough edges and sprocket holes reveal the labor involved in the darkroom. The process is raw and immediate, a far cry from the slick advertising imagery that defined the era. The grainy texture and high contrast create a sense of grit, mirroring the realities of post-war Paris, far from the romanticized ideal. Frank’s use of the contact sheet challenges traditional art photography, bringing the means of production to the forefront. Ultimately, this work is a powerful reminder that art is not just about the final image but also about the materials, the making, and the social context in which it's created.