Looking In: Robert Frank’s “The Americans”

Robert Frank (American, born Switzerland, 1924) "Rodeo—New York City," 1954 gelatin silver print 33.7 x 21.3 cm (13 1/4 x 8 3/8 in.) Collection of Barbara and Eugene Schwartz Photograph © Robert Frank, from "The Americans"
Robert Frank (American, born Switzerland, 1924) "Rodeo—New York City, 1954" gelatin silver print 33.7 x 21.3 cm (13 1/4 x 8 3/8 in.) Collection of Barbara and Eugene Schwartz Photograph © Robert Frank, from "The Americans"
Robert Frank (American, born Switzerland, 1924) "Trolley—New Orleans," 1955 gelatin silver print 21.9 x 33.2 cm (8 5/8 x 13 1/16 in.) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gilman Collection, Purchase, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee Gift, 2005 (2005.100.454) Photograph © Robert Frank, from "The Americans"
Robert Frank (American, born Switzerland, 1924) "Trolley—New Orleans, 1955" gelatin silver print 21.9 x 33.2 cm (8 5/8 x 13 1/16 in.) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gilman Collection, Purchase, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee Gift, 2005 (2005.100.454) Photograph © Robert Frank, from "The Americans"
Robert Frank (American, born Switzerland, 1924) "Elevator—Miami Beach, 1955" gelatin silver print 31.4 x 47.8 cm (12 3/8 x 18 13/16 in.) Philadelphia Museum of Art, Purchased with funds contributed by Dorothy Norman, 1969 Photograph © Robert Frank, from "The Americans"
Robert Frank (American, born Switzerland, 1924) "Elevator—Miami Beach, 1955" gelatin silver print 31.4 x 47.8 cm (12 3/8 x 18 13/16 in.) Philadelphia Museum of Art, Purchased with funds contributed by Dorothy Norman, 1969 Photograph © Robert Frank, from "The Americans"

I’m very excited about this one: From September 2009 thru January 2010, The Met will exhibit Looking In: Robert Frank’s The Americans. The exhibit will celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Americans, Franks’ famous book of black and white photos made on a beat-inflected cross-country road trip from 1955-56. Initially criticized for his depiction of American life (considering racism, corruption and consumerism, among other issues), his series was soon recognized as a masterpiece of street photography, a study of both the country’s vastness and its volatile culture.

According to the museum, Looking In: Robert Frank’s The Americans features all 83 photographs from Frank’s original book. In total, the show will feature more than 100 photographs, 17 books, and 15 manuscripts, as well as 28 contact sheets made from the artist’s negatives. Remarkably, the Metropolitan’s exhibition will be the first time that this body of work is presented in its entirety to a NY audience.

Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
For more information, visit www.metmuseum.org

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