In the documentary, Frank candidly discusses his relentless drive to photograph everything around him, describing it as a constant need to serve as a witness to his adopted country. He also fondly recalls his meaningful friendships with members of the Beat Generation, including the iconic poet Allen Ginsberg, who would become lifelong companions and artistic influences.
Frank's photographic journey began in Switzerland in 1941, where he started studying the craft that would define his career. For the following six years, he honed his skills working at various commercial photography and graphic design studios across Switzerland, including positions in Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. This period provided him with essential technical training and professional experience.
In 1947, Frank made the pivotal decision to travel to the United States, where his career took a significant turn when Alexey Brodovitch hired him to create fashion photographs for Harper's Bazaar. What made Frank's approach particularly noteworthy was his choice to shoot primarily with a 35-millimeter Leica camera for fashion work, which was quite unusual and revolutionary for that time period. However, his tenure at Harper's Bazaar was brief, as he resigned just a few months after being hired.
Between 1950 and 1955, Frank worked as a freelance photographer, producing both photojournalism and advertising photographs for some of the most prestigious publications of the era, including LIFE, Look, Charm, and Vogue, among others. This period allowed him to develop his distinctive style and build his reputation in the American photography scene.
A crucial turning point in Frank's career came when the renowned photographer Walker Evans suggested that he apply for the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship. This recommendation proved to be life-changing, as Frank successfully received the fellowship, which provided him with the financial freedom and opportunity to travel extensively throughout the United States during 1955 and 1956. During this transformative journey, he captured the photographs that would eventually comprise his most famous and influential work, "The Americans."
"The Americans" was first published in France under the title "Les Américains" in 1957, and it would go on to become one of the most revolutionary and influential volumes in the entire history of photography. The book challenged conventional photographic aesthetics and offered a raw, unvarnished view of American society that was both controversial and groundbreaking.
Reflecting on his experience with the Beat Generation artists, Frank shared profound insights about their influence on his worldview and artistic philosophy. "I would live amongst them, and I would be influenced by that attitude and that wish to be accepted for what they were, not to compromise," Frank explained in the documentary. "That was the word, not to compromise. Where I came from, Europe, there was no such thing. You did what you were supposed to do. You would find a place, and get married and that was all. Here they wanted to have a different life. They wanted to live in this culture but be different. And that was a worthwhile goal to have here. To be here but to be different."
This philosophy of maintaining one's authentic identity while adapting to a new culture became a central theme in Frank's work and life. The works of Robert Frank are currently represented by the Holden Luntz Gallery, which shared this documentary as part of their ongoing "Meet our Artist" program, designed to provide deeper insights into the lives and creative processes of the artists they represent.
