Neon lights, Plantation Inn--West Memphis, Arkansas

1955

Robert Frank

Associated Names
Robert Frank

Artist, American, born Switzerland, 1924 - 2019

The image shows a ground-level perspective of a scene with a stark contrast between light and shadow. A long, low white building is visible in the distance against a dark background. The horizon line is low, with structures appearing silhouetted against the overcast sky. A tall utility pole is on the left side, connected by wires extending across the frame. The color palette is monochromatic, emphasizing light and dark through variations of gray and black. The sky is heavy and textured, creating a dramatic and moody effect. The brushstrokes, if this were a painting, could be described as smooth and continuous, focusing on tonal gradations. The scene is enveloped in shadow, obscuring details and leaving the landscape undefined.
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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The artist, New York; gift to NGA, 1990.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2009

  • Looking In: Robert Frank's The Americans, National Gallery of Art, Washington; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2009, no. 66.07.

Wikidata ID

Q64164123

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