Today, September 10th of 2019, the photography community mourns an influential documentary photographer. Robert Frank passed away this morning at age 94.

 

Photo via NPR

From the Beginning

Robert Frank creative journey began when he was a teenager. While living in Switzerland, Frank studied and apprenticed with graphic designers and photographers in Zurich, Basel and Geneva.

Upon his arrival to New York, Frank began working in the fashion industry. His career in fashion was short lived because he realized that fashion shots isn’t what he wanted anymore. Above all, he hated working for a magazine who had so much control over his work. That is when Robert Frank decided to venture out on his own with just his camera in hand, Martin Gayford, Art News. 

He was most known for his book The Americans. His book contains of black and white photographs taken along a road trip he made in the 1950’s. These photos are known for being a true representation of the 50’s and not the cookie-cutter perfection that’s projected. These photos are dark, grainy and free from sentimentality, according to Andrew Limbong of NPR.

“I was tired of romanticism,” Frank said of The Americans, “I wanted to present what I saw, pure and simple,” as quoted by The Guardian. This approach is part of what made Frank such an inspiration to future artists; it was pure and true. He wasn’t afraid to show the world the “ugliness” of the streets. 

Unpopular Opinion of the Time

This approach to photo-taking was met with distaste. Popular Photography magazine expressed their dislike for the Americans. They stated that the photos were “a meaningless blur, grain, muddy exposures, drunken horizons and general sloppiness.” Safe to say that Popular Photography was not a fan of Robert Frank. They even went as far to say that he was a joyless man who disliked “the country of his adoption.” Philip Gefter, New York Times. 

“There were a lot of heartbreaking streets. I was drawn to that– how tough it was and how tough they were.” – Robert Frank

Robert Frank stated this is an interview with Martin Gayford. This was part of the explanation of Frank’s first experience in states.

A True Inspiration

As stated by the New Yorker, by embracing Robert Frank’s work, people could gain a sense of ambiguity. You’d be able to see the beauty in everything; good or bad. Even nowadays, that’s not an easy lesson to teach. 

Frank’s revealing and eye-opening approach of capturing life in American in the 1950s ” inspired generations of photographers, writers, filmmakers and musicians,” Andrew Marton, the Washington Post. People were inspired to be open- minded and unafraid to show the real world no matter what it entailed. 

Award-winning documentary photographer, Maggie Steber shared in an interview what she learned from Robert Frank. She stated that his photos taught her “the simplest photograph might carry the greatest meaning.” Furthermore, Frank’s photos educated her about issues, some of which she didn’t even know about, Keith Jenkins of NPR. 

Alec Soth, known for his distinctive photographs of the American Midwest shared, “Frank taught me how to make a life out of looking– with honesty, both outward and inward.” Megan Paetzhold, New York Times. 

 

Thank you

I sincerely hope that Robert Frank’s work will live on and continue to inspire artists everywhere.

 

Rest in Paradise, Robert Frank. Thank you for your beautiful work.

via PetaPixel