Robert Frank

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Robert Frank

Robert frank is an American photographer who was born in November 1924 in Switzerland. He is a central figure in the America photography and filmmaking industry and his work notably started in 1958 where he produced a photographic book known as The Americans. He further developed films and videos that he experimented in a work of art and handling of photographs. Before he created his first book of photographs, he used to work under a few photographers as a graphic designer until the time when he traveled to South America and later to Europe. While in Europe, he created another handbook of photographs that he shot at Peru then migrated back to the United States where he became a fashion photographer. In 1950, it became a historic year for Frank when he met with Edward Steichen and they both participated in the American photographers’ show at the modern art museum. Therefore, in the history of photography, Frank influenced many people because of his film, still images production and mostly The American photography book.

The Americans photography was one of Frank’s artwork that influenced the American society during the post-war period. It was the first publication made on 1958 in France and then published again in the United States in 1959. The Americans photography was printed on the second time in 1969 and the photographs were extraordinary especially when viewed from a lowly and high point of view (Peres 103). The photography book had a difficult portrait during the earlier period because it was seen as a skeptical and a reminiscent in everywhere. When he was in the New York, he met with the writer Jack Kerouac and they both traveled together to the party whereby Frank showed him his photographs. In addition, Kerouac was one of the poet and novelist writer in the America born in 1969 and he inspired many writers. He helped Frank in the introduction of his photography book The Americans since he was a good poet and novel writer.

Frank has been considered one of the leading photographers in the history of photography. He was prominent especially during the post-war era and he redefined the artistic of both the motionless and the moving picture through creation of his images and films. In 1947, he moved to New York where he was hired by Alexey Brodovitch as a fashion photographer for Harper’s market. This work made him to travel into many places taking images and his work impressed many people in the United States. In 1954 when he was accredited in the first Guggenheim association, Frank made a trip a cross American on which he managed to take 28,000 pictures. Of these pictures, 83 of them were published in a groundbreaking monograph of Frank’s mage book known as The Americans (Peres 254).

In 1959, frank started the work of making films that were described by having an improvisational quality due to his careful planning. In 1972, he produced a good film of the rolling stones. He included autobiographical elements and a print of artistic when he turned to still photography. He used different frames of pictures with scratched negatives and likewise created unique designs using texts. His photography and films became the exhibition matters in most parts of the United States and overseas (Honour and Fleming 76). He appeared several times in the American style magazines know as Harper’s Bazaar. This magazine assembled photographers, writers and other kinds of fashion n the America and it was produced on a monthly basis.

In the 1950, Edward Steichen presented the photographs of Frank to a group show in the modern art museums. Edward was an American artist who frequently featured on photography. He was a painter, art gallery and a museum warden. Therefore, he helped Frank in presenting his photographs to the art gallery and the museum for exhibition. Frank was allowed to present his photographs alone in the exhibition show (Peres 217). His photographs were appreciated and many people such as Kunsthaus mounted his first display of photographs in 1974 and later, some of his photos were mounted in different museums such as Fogg art and Long Beach museums.

In addition, before The Americans, photography book was completely published, Frank had already moved away from photo taking to filmmaking. Some of the films that he produced include Pull my Daisy and the rolling stones. The former was written and narrated by his two friends who became concerned and supported him. The film emphasized simplicity and it expressed the quality of being more improvised. Many people liked this film because it was carefully planned and professionally planned. However, the rolling stone film was arguably one of his best film productions. The film indicated stones through a 72 tour and the film was really appreciated. The film was restricted by the court order not to be shown beyond five times yearly unless in Frank’s presence.

In 1980, his filmmaking increased and the following year, he screened his films at the Rotterdam Film Festival. His films were put on display at different places including Spain, Valencia and later in the following year, the films were exhibited in the fine art museums. In 1987, they were displayed in Folkwag museum and Germany. Then later in the American film institute in Washington D.C, he exhibited his work that influenced many people. Most of the museum in Americans displayed his pictures in the art museums and galleries (Honour and Fleming 89). He was celebrated in 1996 in Hassel band Foundation whereby he was awarded as the best artistic for good exhibitions.

His interest of photography continued to increase especially in the recent exhibitions. He kept traveling working as a photographer and film producer. In 2000 to 2001, his pictures were displayed in the Centro cultural centre in Lisbon and the Corcoran Gallery of art in Washington D.C in 2003. The Tate modern foundation in London arranged the storylines of frank in a display of more than 150 prints and this program highlighted many of his films and the video projects. In 2004, his presentation spread to the Contemporani art museum in Barcelona and later to Fotomuseum and Fotostiftung in 2005.

Even though Frank was concerned with films and video production, he returned to still images on early 1970s. He published the second book in 1972 known as Lines of My Hand. This artistic work was termed as the visual autobiography that consisted of personal images (Day 76). Nevertheless, Frank created narratives from the constructed pictures and incorporated word and different analogies to that of The Americans photography. On some point, his still images were far to the accepted light system of the time. This contributed to his criticisms because he was unable to produce still images that were allowed during his era.

Frank received many honors in the history of photography and most of his photographic collections can be found worldwide in art galleries, art museums and different show areas. He received the first award in Guggenheim association and another one in the American film institute. In addition, he received an award for eminent career in photography. The recent award was in 2002 at Edward MacDowell Medal for being the best photography. Some of the recent events of his collections were displayed in Folkwag museum and Essen in 2008. In earlier 2009, his collections of artwork were displayed in Fotomuseum, Netherlands and the Rotterdam show. People still admired his photography of The Americans that was displayed in national gallery of art in Washington and the modern art in San Francisco in 2009.

His unorthodox style, illumination and logic of focus drew attention to many criticisms. Frank had a difficulty time in producing fashionable photographic standards and his book The Americans photography was criticized in the United States. At first, sales were poor because his fashionable photography appeared meaningless, portrayed poor horizons and sloppiness. He did not have supporters in his work but some writers such as Kerouac and Ginsberg created a good relationship with him. They were concerned in his documenting the framework of the modern society. The introduction of Kerouac helped him to reach more audiences due Kerouac’s trendy Beat phenomenon (Day 56).

Later, due to inspiration from other artists, The Americans photography earned him popularity in art history. In addition, he became a cultural celebrity and was chosen as the representative of the artists in the United States and overseas. New edition about The Americans photography was released globally on the midst of 2008. He wanted his publisher, Gerhard Steidl to fabricate a new edition using the scanning technique and the premium printing. More information was included in this photography book and new edition appeared more attractive than the old edition. Only two images were completely changed from the original pictures and a new format of photography was chosen.

In conclusion, Frank Robert was one of the best in the history of photography. His work especially in production of films such as the Rolling Stones and Pull my Daisy were really appreciated by many people. In his first book known as The Americans, the photographs inside this book were amazing and they influenced many people in the American society. His photographic work earned him credit because of the way he carefully planed his work. In addition, he was given many awards because of his good artistic work. He traveled to many places in the United States and overseas taking photographs. Most of his photography was displayed in different art galleries, museums globally and even shown in the magazines of the America. However, his work was criticized at first the time because he could not be able to produce light images that were accepted during his period.

Works Cited

Day, Jonathan. Robert Frank’s the Americans: The Art of Documentary Photography. Bristol:

Intellect, 2011. Print.

Honour, Hugh and John Fleming. A World History of Art. London, UK: Laurence King, 2005. Print.

Peres, Michael. The Focal Encyclopedia of Photography: Digital Imaging, Theory and

Applications, History, and Science. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Focal Press, 2007. Print.