Controversial America in the Best Photographs of Robert Frank

Contemporary American-Swiss photographer Robert Frank came to the United States in 1947, and during several years of travel around the country he took many black and white photographs that later became world-famous masterpieces.

We have selected the brightest and most poignant images from his most popular photo book, The Americans.

(Total 19 photos)

1. New Jersey Parade

The photo was taken in 1955 during Frank's long journey, which turned out to be far from the most pleasant walk: in Arkansas he was arrested and interrogated on suspicion of espionage, in another state the sheriff gave him "an hour to leave the city."

2. "Park in Cleveland, Ohio", 1955-56

3. The boy reads a newspaper with the headline "Marilyn is dead"

4. When 83 photographs taken during the trip were finally published - in 1958 in Paris and in 1959 in the USA - a flurry of criticism fell upon the book. Partly with good reason: Robert Frank's photographs were not "popular" in any sense. They were absolutely incomprehensible and unpleasant to the average American audience. On the other hand, the book had a great influence on the development of reportage photography in the second half of the 20th century. In our time, the book "The Americans" has long become a classic, withstood many reprints, although it may still not be very clear to the general public.

5. Frank's photographs stood out against the general background of his contemporaries also in terms of the so-called aesthetic parameters: the usual professional photography of the 1950s implied a clear exposure, even horizons, and other “correct” parameters. Frank's shots were blurry and sometimes even with a “littered horizon”, which, accordingly, could not go unnoticed by critics, in contrast to the generally recognized canons.

6.

7. "Picnic", 1956

8. Robert Frank himself talked about his approach to photography in this way: “White and black are the colors of photography. For me, they symbolize hope and despair.

I always say that I don't want to be sentimental, that photographs are not supposed to be sentimental, but I still know that I am sentimental.

I am often accused of knowingly distorting facts to fit my point of view. This is partly true, because a photographer cannot observe life indifferently. His opinion is a kind of criticism. But criticism can also come from love.”

9. “I travel around the states. About a year. 500 film rolls. I go to post offices, cheap shops, bus stops. I sleep in cheap hotels. At 7 am I go to the nearest cafe. I work all the time. I talk little. I try to be invisible ... "(About filming for the book" Americans ")

10. The bus with the separation of seats - "for whites" and "for colored."

11. Photo "Congressmen", taken in 1955, which is considered one of the key periods in the history of the struggle of African Americans for their rights.

12. Street male prostitutes, 1955

13. One of the most famous photographs of Frank, in which the author managed to convey amazing emotions and dynamics.

14. "Rodeo in New York."

15. "Men's toilet at the station in Memphis", 1955

16. The American dream, which sometimes hides a person's identity.

17. Indianapolis, 1955 The era of active fusion of cultures in American society. In the photo there is a symbolic Harley Davidson motorcycle, denim clothing, but not whites, but African Americans are wearing it.

18. New York, 1955-56.

19. 1956