Guggenheim 653--Cafeteria, San Francisco c. 1956

"Guggenheim 653--Cafeteria, San Francisco" (c. 1956) is a contact sheet of photographs by Robert Frank. It is part of a series of contact sheets that document Frank's travels across America for his book *The Americans*, which challenged traditional notions of American life. This sheet shows a series of photographs taken in a San Francisco cafeteria, showcasing the typical everyday lives of the working class in the mid-20th century. The image captures the bustling energy of the cafeteria, highlighting the stark contrast between the working class and the more affluent clientele of the establishment. The images are presented in their original format, uncropped and unedited, offering a glimpse into the raw process of the photographer's work. The contact sheet format, a hallmark of documentary photography, allows the viewer to see the photographs in their entirety. This work highlights the social commentary of Frank's work and the importance of documenting the lives of ordinary Americans.