Danziger Gallery is commemorating the centenary of legendary photographer Robert Frank with a special online exhibition featuring 20 prints spanning from 1948 to 1968. The exhibition showcases works from one of the most influential figures in modern photography, celebrating what would have been Frank's 100th birthday.
Born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1924, Frank began his career as a European photojournalist before emigrating to America in 1947. Drawn by the poetic possibilities of photography and the opportunities he hoped would emerge in his new homeland, Frank used America as his base to develop a revolutionary personal vision that would transform the medium forever.
As an immigrant exploring his adopted country, Frank created some of the most celebrated American photographs in history. However, his artistic vision extended far beyond American borders, as he traveled extensively to capture images in England, Wales, France, and Peru. Frank brought an unprecedented improvisational quality to photography, presenting the world in a way that was both different and more truthful than the commonly perceived visual clichés of his era.
Frank's often dark and idiosyncratic vision initially shocked many viewers and critics, but his groundbreaking approach ultimately paved the way for much of what followed in contemporary photography. Despite shooting an estimated 50,000 different pictures during the twenty-year period from 1948 to 1968, Frank was ruthlessly selective in his editing process, choosing to make prints only of the images he felt were the most emotionally and artistically resonant.
The prints featured in this exhibition carry particular historical significance. By the late 1970s, Frank had shifted his primary creative focus from photography to filmmaking. In 1978, needing funds to support both his lifestyle and his film projects, he made the significant decision to sell his existing archive of prints. To complete this major transaction, several hundred additional prints were created. All the photographs in the current exhibition originate from that pivotal 1978 purchase, which represents the largest private collection of works by this monumentally important figure in photographic history.
The exhibition "Robert Frank: Centenary - 20 Photographs from 1948-1968" runs from July 12 through September 6, 2024. Danziger Gallery operates locations in both New York City and Los Angeles, with viewings available by appointment only. The New York location is situated at 952 5th Avenue, NYC 10075, and can be reached at 212-629-6778, while the Los Angeles location can be contacted at 310-962-0002. Additional information and selected works from the exhibition are available on the gallery's website.
