Americans 36 americans 42 americans 58 americans 61 americans 79. A sequence of photographs testifies to a photographers visual thinking, a way of seeing revealed through choices of colour, subject, scale and perspective. The americans is a photographic book by robert frank which was highly influential in postwar american photography. Embarking on a series of road trips through the united states in the 1950s, frank created photos which showed a different america as opposed to the countrys selfimage at the time. First published in france in 1958, then in the united states in 1959, robert franks the americans exploded onto twentiethcentury photography redefining what a photograph and a photography book could mean. A look back at the mid20thcentury photographs of robert. Trolleynew orleans 100 photographs the most influential.
Robert frank photographs at the metropolitan museum, road. In the americans, robert frank may have appeared as a revolutionary photographer, but beyond the americans, the real revolution in photography was taking place elsewhere. Exhibition celebrates 50th anniversary of iconic photography book. This is the photo book that redefined what a photo book could be personal, poetic, real. To mark the books fiftieth anniversary, jonathan day revisits this. The americans by robert frank first published in 1953 in france. Its careful sequence of 1 plates integrates 22 photographs from the americans with more than 100 unknown or unfamiliar images to chart the major themes and pictorial strategies of franks work in the united states in the 1950s. The americans by robert frank is one of the most influential photo books published of alltime. It consisted of 83 photographs, with only one photograph per page. The photographs were notable for their distanced view of both high and low strata of american society. The following year grove press published the americans in new york with an introduction by jack kerouac the book was released in january 1960 like frank s earlier books, the sequence of 83 pictures in the americans is nonnarrative and nonlinear. Peter galassis text presents a thorough reconsideration of franks first photographic career and examines in detail. Dead at 94, legendary american photographer robert frank.
American contacts robert frank exhibitions danziger. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, robert franks masterpiece still holds up the selection of photos, and their sequence and pacing is fresh, rich, generous. Buy a cheap copy of the americans book by robert frank. It may well be one of the most perfectly formed shows i have ever attended. This text was first requested by robert delpire for a pocket book of photographs by robert frank to be published i think by the french ministry of photography. Born in 1924 in zurich, switzerland, robert frank was raised in comfortable, middleclass surroundings. How robert franks the americans broke the rules of.
The san francisco museum of modern art sfmoma is pleased to present looking in. When people look at my pictures i want them to feel the way they do when they want to read a line of a poem twice. Franks seminal book the americans, with an introduction by jack kerouac, helped to change the direction of photography. Last may, robert frank, the worlds preeminent living photographer, returned to zurich, the orderly swiss banking city, cosseted by lake and mountain, where he grew up. Critic sean ohagan, writing in the guardian in 2014, said the.
Frank carefully sequenced the pictures in the americans so that the book. Jan 01, 2009 the 83 original photographs from the americans are presented in sequence in as near vintage prints as possible. The explanation was nullified when robert frank turned from the fact and fiction of the photo essay to poetry. Peter galassis text presents a thorough reconsideration of franks.
Les americains contained franks 83 photographs in the same sequence as all subsequent editions, with the image on the right hand page, but juxtaposed with historical texts about american society and. Robert franks the americans celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of this prescient book. In this book, peter galassi covers the period preceding the initial publication of the seminal the americans in1959 and the background of what was going on in the world of photography and the difficulties encountered by early photographers of franks ilk in terms of publication politics, resistance. A look back at the mid20thcentury photographs of robert frank.
The following year grove press published the americans in new york with an introduction by jack kerouac the book was released in january 1960 like franks earlier books, the sequence of 83 pictures in the americans is nonnarrative and nonlinear. For a list of prints, contact sheets, and work prints produced during franks guggenheim trip, broken down by state, including those published in the americans, see robert frank photographs, contact sheets, and work prints from the guggenheim trip, including those published in the americans. Were the photographs edited and sequenced by the photographer or by. The beauty of this book is the mundane situations forever caught on film moments that appeared and thanks to frank didnt as they otherwise would have, disappear. I am a fan of robert frank s work, i love photo books, and i hope this video will inspire people to purchase photo books as. Armed with a camera and a fresh cache of film and bankrolled by a guggenheim foundation grant, robert frank crisscrossed the united states during 1955 and 1956. Sep 11, 2019 traveling across midcentury america, robert frank documented a country that was deeply divided by class and race, visually contradicting the image of affluence and equality that most americans. Robert frank s the americans celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of this prescient book. First published in 1959, robert franks masterpiece still holds up the selection of photos, and their sequence and pacing is fresh, rich, generous, and stunning. Inside robert franks the americans smithsonian magazine.
And wham, there it was, this huge, deep, dark poem about america that gave me something to encounter day after day after day. These photographs feature glimpses of highways, cars, parades, jukeboxes, and diners as iconic symbols. This book, based on the important frank collection at the cantor arts. The book that changed photography in 1959, robert frank s the americans dramatically altered how photographers looked through viewfinders and how americans saw themselves. These photographs feature glimpses of highways, cars, parades, jukeboxes, and diners as iconic symbols of america while simultaneously suggesting an. In october of 1958, french publisher robert delpire released les americains in. Eight photographers on their favorite image from robert frank. This spreadsheet notes only those objects indicated by frank to have been products of the guggenheim trip. The third section is composed of all 83 images from the americans in their original sequence, often in the form of rarely exhibited vintage prints. Apr 08, 2017 robert frank american contacts march 7 april 8. The 83 original photographs from the americans are presented in sequence in as near vintage prints as possible.
First published in france in 1958, then in the united states in 1959, robert franks the americans changed the course of twentiethcentury photography. Contemporary artist and photographer ed ruscha said. It has inspired countless numbers of photographers across all genres, especially appealing to documentary and street photographers. Created in the 1950s during a series of road trips through the united. The book that changed photography in 1959, robert franks the americans dramatically altered how photographers looked through viewfinders and how americans saw themselves. One of the most acclaimed photographers of the 20th century, robert frank is best known for his seminal book the americans, featuring photographs taken by the artist in the mid1950s as he traveled across the u. Not a human in sight, though the imprint of human activity could hardly be more. Nov 30, 2014 because of the importance of robert frank s the americans. Described as one of the best and most influential photography books of all times, the americans by robert frank changed the very nature of photography, showing it could be personal, poetic and real. In this rare interview, photographer robert frank discusses his seminal book the americans 1958. Inside robert franks the americans the national gallery of art organized a comprehensive exhibit of robert franks work 5. He turned to film, and reduced his photographs to haikus of his life that enumerated the.
From the text heavy french version to the oversized aperture reprint, frank has continued to refine his work each time it appears in print. The eightythree original photographs from the americans are presented in sequence in as near vintage prints as possible. Like franks earlier books, the sequence of 83 pictures in the americans is. Robert frank the americans 1957 selection of reproductions rodeo new york city, 1954. Robert franks curious perspective in his book the americans, robert frank changed photography. Following walker evans, the fsa photographer who documented the great depressions effects upon small town life, robert frank took interest in the painfully ordinary. Robert frank the americans fotografia dallitalia e dal mondo. Americans signed 1959 grove press 1st edition fine copy in fine dust jacket by frank, robert and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The catalogue concludes with an examination of franks later reinterpretations and deconstructions of the americans, bringing full circle the history of this resounding entry in the annals of photography. In this episode we discuss the work of robert frank and his importance in the. After that, he refined his selection and then established the sequence for the book. Jan 25, 2009 the explanation was nullified when robert frank turned from the fact and fiction of the photo essay to poetry.
When robert franks book the americans was released, practical photography magazine dismissed the swissborn photographers work as a collection of meaningless blur, grain, muddy exposures, drunken horizons and general sloppiness. Like an elusive text in search of itself, robert franks 1958 book the americans has changed format each of the four times its changed publishers. First published in 1959, the americans captures the nation at its plainest moments. New york, 30 december 2009 the exhibition looking in. The guggenheim trip 195557 national gallery of art. Because of the importance of robert franks the americans. If you like it could i suggest that you also get looking in published by steidl, a huge 500 page book that gives you the back ground to the americans and robert frank s life. Uncomfortable truths tend to carry consequences for the teller. In 1958, the first edition of robert franks the americans was published in paris. Les americainscontained franks 83 photographs in the same sequence as all subsequent editions, with the image on the right hand page, but juxtaposed with historical texts about american society and politics, gathered by alain bosquet. The fourth section addresses the impact that the americans had on franks subsequent career and includes a film frank made in 2008 especially for this exhibition. How robert franks book the americans redefined american. The most influential living photographer is the subject of a major new exhibition at the metropolitan museum of art. Jul 05, 2015 last may, robert frank, the worlds preeminent living photographer, returned to zurich, the orderly swiss banking city, cosseted by lake and mountain, where he grew up.
After graduating from high school, he began an apprenticeship in 1941 with a photographer and retoucher who lived in the same apartment building as franks family. In 1958, the first edition of robert franks the americanswas published in paris. I am certain that many of you are familiar with robert frank and the americans. It was first published in france in 1958, and the following year in the united states. Frank was also driven to create a publication that would work as a selfcontained book. Robert frank november 9, 1924 september 9, 2019 was a swiss photographer and documentary filmmaker, who became an american binational. I am a fan of robert franks work, i love photo books, and i hope this video will. Kerouac said, robert frank he sucked a sad poem right out of america onto film, taking rank among the tragic poets of the world. The americans photographs by robert frank lensculture. Robert frank s the americans, again an absolutely beautifully produced book. Les americains contained franks 83 photographs in the same sequence as all subsequent editions, with the image on the right hand page, but juxtaposed with historical texts about american society and politics, gathered by alain bosquet. The americans is a photographic book by robert frank which was highly influential in postwar.
Dead at 94, legendary american photographer robert frank is. The americans robert frank is an extraordinary photo book of ordinary americans. Here, for example, is butte, which frank reached in may, 1956. Robert frank, the americans described as one of the best and most influential photography books of all times, the americans by robert frank changed the very nature of photography, showing it could be personal, poetic and real. Snaps of time captured with a camera to be immortalized. The americans is a photography book by swissborn robert frank, published first in france 1958 and then in the us 1959. First published in france in 1958, then in the united states in 1959, robert frank s the americans changed the course of twentiethcentury photography. Kerouac said, robert frankhe sucked a sad poem right out of america onto film, taking rank among the tragic poets of the world. I know the book has had a profound impact on my photography and how i approach projects. The americans was not well received largely because of the style of.
Sep 25, 2009 robert franks disturbed and mournful songoftheroad portrait of a new homeland is the subject of a 50thanniversary exhibition now at the metropolitan museum of art. Contributor lyle rexer lyle rexer is the author of several books on outsider art, including how to look at outsider art. Robert franks the americans still shocks, 50 years on. All pictures robert frank the americans by robert frank nb. The resultant photo book, the americans, represents a seminal moment in both photography and in americas understanding of itself. The following year, in the first american edition, the french texts were. Traveling across midcentury america, robert frank documented a country that was deeply divided by class and race, visually contradicting the. In october of 1958, french publisher robert delpire released les americains in paris.
Eight photographers on their favorite image from robert. In 195556, swissborn frank photographed america on 2 year road trip. In the mid1950s, swissborn new yorker robert frank embarked on a tenthousandmile road trip across america, capturing thousands of photographs of all levels of a rapidly changing society. The robert frank collection national gallery of art. Few photographers have managed to capture the american life and culture as honestly as robert frank. Robert franks the americans, the most comprehensive and indepth exploration of franks groundbreaking book to date. The desire to publish his photographs in a book was always something that was in the back of his head, said sarah greenough, senior curator of photography at the national gallery of art in washington, d.
American contacts robert frank exhibitions danziger gallery. Robert franks the americans at the san francisco museum of modern art. Seeing the americans in a college bookshop was a stunning, groundtrembling experience for me. His father, hermann frank, of frankfurtammain, germany, was a successful and welleducated businessman, who was an amateur photographer and interested in art.
Robert franks the americans, at the metropolitan museum of art, includes franks photograph elevator miami beach, 1955. Dissecting the american image jno cook exposure magazine, volume 24, number 1 spring 1986. Eight photographers, including eugene richards and glenna gordon, describe their favorite image from robert franks foundational photo book the americans. Apr 25, 2017 eight photographers, including eugene richards and glenna gordon, describe their favorite image from robert franks foundational photo book the americans. Robert frank audio in this podcast of the annual elson lecture, recorded on march 26, 2009, robert frank speaks with curator sarah greenough about his career before, during, and after the. Robert franks the americans, now on view at the metropolitan museum of art in new york, tells the story of the making of one of the most important photography books of the twentieth century and one of the most consequential works produced by a modern swiss artist. In this episode we discuss the work of robert frank and his importance in the 20th century a. Edizione con introduzione di kerouac in lingua originale curata anche nella stampa delle fotografie. Dec 28, 2010 the americans in this episode we discuss the work of robert frank and his importance in the 20th century a.
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