Introduction
Robert Frank is an American-Swiss artist who is one of the most famous photographers of the 20th century. The harsh and melancholy vision has become Frank’s hallmark, making him one of the most realistic documentarians. Photography has been a lifelong interest for Frank, which led him to commercial photography at Harper’s Bazaar in his early career (MoMA, 2019).
Frank’s most famous work is the photo book “The Americans,” which was published in the United States in 1960 (MoMA, 2019). Sensitivity to the surrounding world and the desire to show it in all its variety of beautiful and ugly manifestations brought Frank world fame. Frank influenced public vision by introducing the beauty of the ugly phenomena of human life to the general public, as well as revolutionizing documentary photography.
Robert Frank’s Photography
In the photographic series “The Americans,” Frank conveys the idea that ugliness can be not only shocking but also eye-catching, which is extremely important in documentary photography. The images he presents in the photobook are harsh, ruthless, and melancholic. This vision of American post-war realities was made possible by the position of the observer that Frank took in a country that was not his homeland.
An attentive outside observer was able to convey the entire spectrum of the life of the population. The documentary artist is impartial and depicts a wide variety of phenomena: youth culture, elite recreation, city streets, and deserted outskirts. Frank’s photographs show the American community in all its diversity.
Frank continued to take photographs in his later years, using mixed techniques. From a harsh depiction of general reality, Frank moved on to more personal photographs depicting his perception (Jenkins, 2019). Often, the photographer uses several connected frames, inscriptions, and photographs using various methods (Jenkins, 2019).
These works are not tied to a particular genre and are intended to reflect the synthesis of the arts. The artist reveals many personal details of life for self-reflection and to display the uniqueness of each human story. Frank’s most notable influence has been recognized in the art of documentary photography. His portrayal of post-war America was caustic and hard-hitting but accurate.
The Influence of the Photographer on Society
Frank became an example of honesty in photographic art and also endowed documentary filmmaking with the right to denounce the negative aspects of social order. Frank empowered photographers to denounce vices and contribute to the improvement of public well-being. Such a view was necessary for a society in a state of false optimism.
In his series, the photographer highlights poverty, racial discrimination, and growing economic inequality. This honest portrayal without embellishment also influenced American society. The civil rights movement, the fight against discrimination and inequality, and the subsequent anti-war protests resulted from giving the population an honest look at their problems. According to Robert Frank, society today can rationally and objectively reflect on problems and work together for the benefit of the population.
Conclusion
The most famous work of American-Swiss photographer Robert Frank is the photo book “The Americans.” Realistic photographs that expose the negative aspects of the post-war structure of the United States have revolutionized documentary photography.
Frank introduced a new rule to documentaries: the need to portray reality honestly and raise awareness of existing problems. Frank’s work has had a significant public impact: the photographer has contributed to the civil rights movement and the general struggle for the common welfare.
References
Jenkins, K. (2019). How Robert Frank’s vision influenced and inspired generations of photographers. NPR. Web.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). (2019). Robert Frank. Web.