Robert Frank

Robert Frank c/o Pace/MacGill Gallery

American, born Switzerland, 1924 - 2019

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This horizontal black and white photograph shows the exterior of a trolley car cropped to show only the mid-section with six passengers inside. The passengers look out of five windows on the left side of the trolley, so their bodies face our left in profile. The four people at the front end, to our left, are white; two people at the back, to our right, are Black. From left to right: a man looks out through the glass of the closed window along the left edge of the photograph. The remaining windows are open. An older woman wearing a dark coat looks at us from under arched eyebrows, lips pursed, out of the next window, to our right. A boy and a young girl look out of the central window. Closer inspection reveals the dark form of a woman next to them, lost in the shadowy interior of the trolley. In the next window, a Black man wearing a long-sleeved, button-down shirt leans onto the window ledge with both forearms, and, in the right-most window, a woman wearing glasses looks over her shoulder, up and away from us. That last window is cropped by the edge of the photograph. The scene behind us is reflected in glass panes above the seats on the exterior of the trolley.
Robert Frank, Trolley—New Orleans, 1955, gelatin silver print, Gift of Maria and Lee Friedlander, 2001.8.1

Trolley—New Orleans

Robert Frank · 1955 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2001.8.1

This is an image of a large American flag with people and children in the background. The flag is prominent and partially obstructs the figures behind it. The stripes and stars of the flag are visible. Below the flag is a grassy area where people are moving in various directions. Tall trees are visible on the right side of the image. Some individuals in the foreground appear to be holding balloons or objects. The image is in black-and-white.
Robert Frank, Fourth of July—Jay, New York, 1954, gelatin silver print, Gift of Dr. J. Patrick and Patricia A. Kennedy, in Honor of the 25th Anniversary of Photography at the National Gallery of Art, 2014.155.6

Fourth of July—Jay, New York

Robert Frank · 1954 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2014.155.6

This is a photograph of a black notebook cover with a label. The label is affixed to the front cover of the notebook and appears to be a sticker that is roughly rectangular in shape with a slightly worn upper-right corner. On the label, the words "PARK/SLEEP" are written prominently in large, hand-written, blue capital letters, with the date "MAY 2012" written underneath in the same style and color. There is a line through the word "ORIGINAL" written in black. Above the main text, in lighter handwriting, the words "Don't Stop" are on the left corner, with "UP" and an upward arrow on the right.
Robert Frank, A-CHAN, Park/Sleep, May 2012, book maquette with handwritten and typewritten text, 27 gelatin silver prints, 5 internal dye diffusion transfer prints (Polaroid SX-70), and 2 diffusion transfer prints (Polaroid), Gift of Jane P. Watkins, 2015.186.1.1-32

Park/Sleep

Robert Frank, A-CHAN · May 2012 · book maquette with handwritten and typewritten text, 27 gelatin silver prints, 5 internal dye diffusion transfer prints (Polaroid SX-70), and 2 diffusion transfer prints (Polaroid) ·  Accession ID  2015.186.1.1-32

The image displays two individuals from the shoulders up, positioned side by side. On the left, the person is facing the camera, wearing large round sunglasses and a cozy knit hat along with a scarf wrapped around their neck. Their facial features are partially covered by the scarf, but they seem to have a smile. On the right, the person is turned slightly to the side, having a phone conversation. They are wearing a knit hat and a quilted jacket. The background is plain and light-colored, suggesting an outdoor setting on a bright day with sunlight casting shadows.
Robert Frank, A-CHAN, June with Alberto Aspesi, Washington, DC, 2008, gelatin silver print, Gift of Jane P. Watkins, 2015.186.1.29

June with Alberto Aspesi, Washington, DC

Robert Frank, A-CHAN · 2008 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.186.1.29

The photograph depicts two sculptures placed close to each other. On the left, there is a sculpture of the Statue of Liberty holding a tablet, along with a small replica of a building nearby. The sculpture is made of a shiny metallic material. On the right, a bust of an Indigenous person's sculpture is displayed, featuring long hair pulled back with a headband and a stoic expression. This sculpture appears to be made of stone or a similar solid material, with a matte finish. The two sculptures are rendered in black and white, highlighting their intricate details and contrasts between materials.
Robert Frank, A-CHAN, N.Y.C., c. 2012, gelatin silver print, Gift of Jane P. Watkins, 2015.186.1.30

N.Y.C.

Robert Frank, A-CHAN · c. 2012 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.186.1.30

This is a photograph of a framed picture and an abstract hanging against a textured surface. The image depicts a small framed photograph and an abstract object on the wall.
Robert Frank, A-CHAN, Studio at Bleecker Street, c. 2012, gelatin silver print, Gift of Jane P. Watkins, 2015.186.1.10

Studio at Bleecker Street

Robert Frank, A-CHAN · c. 2012 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.186.1.10

This is a photograph of an interior corner featuring a closed door, a shelf of books, and a telephone. The image captures a simple, rustic room with wood-paneled walls. To the left, a wall-mounted shelf is densely packed with neatly stacked books. Above the door, a small framed picture and another piece depicting an industrial structure hang on the wall. On the right, an old-fashioned rotary telephone is affixed to the wall, its cord hanging loosely. The door, centered in the image, has a traditional style with a dark doorknob. The lighting creates stark contrasts and shadows on the textured surfaces, adding a moody atmosphere.
Robert Frank, A-CHAN, Living Room Mabou, c. 2012, gelatin silver print, Gift of Jane P. Watkins, 2015.186.1.31

Living Room Mabou

Robert Frank, A-CHAN · c. 2012 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.186.1.31

The image shows a large, ornately framed mirror with a vintage appearance at the center. The overall color palette is grayscale, typical of a black-and-white photograph. The mirror reflects light and shadows, and below it to the left is a circular metal object. To the right of the metal object is a piece of paper with text in the lower right corner. The background is a wooden wall.
Robert Frank, A-CHAN, Mabou Home, c. 2012, gelatin silver print, Gift of Jane P. Watkins, 2015.186.1.4

Mabou Home

Robert Frank, A-CHAN · c. 2012 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.186.1.4

This is a collage of four black and white photographs. Each photograph depicts a corner of a room with windows. Light creates contrasts and shadows in each image. The photos are arranged in a rectangular manner on a textured surface.
Robert Frank, A-CHAN, Untitled, c. 2012, gelatin silver print, Gift of Jane P. Watkins, 2015.186.1.11

Untitled

Robert Frank, A-CHAN · c. 2012 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.186.1.11

The image is a black and white photograph taken from a street-level perspective. The camera is pointed toward a large stone monument in the center of the frame, depicting a lion statue on a pedestal. The horizon is not distinctly visible, as the buildings and monument rise above the horizon line. The buildings are positioned to the left and right of the monument, forming a symmetrical urban setting leading toward the statue. The architecture consists of multi-story classic European buildings, and vehicles, including old-style cars and a motorcycle, are visible close to us, blending into the street scene. The image has a slightly blurred, out-of-focus quality, adding to the vintage feel. The color palette is limited to shades of gray and white, characteristic of the monochrome film photography style.
Robert Frank, A-CHAN, Paris, Denfert-Rochereau, c. 2012, gelatin silver print, Gift of Jane P. Watkins, 2015.186.1.18

Paris, Denfert-Rochereau

Robert Frank, A-CHAN · c. 2012 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.186.1.18