Contradictory America in the best of Robert Frank's photographs

• Contradictory America in the best of Robert Frank's photographs

Modern American-shvetsarsky photographer Robert Frank came to the US in 1947, and a few years traveling around the country made a lot of black-and-white photographs, which later became world-famous masterpieces.

We picked the brightest and most poignant snapshots of his most popular photo book "The Americans" ( "The Americans").

"Parade in New Jersey"

Picture taken in 1955 during the French a long journey, which proved to be not the most pleasant stroll: in Arkansas, he was arrested and questioned on suspicion of espionage, in another state sheriff gave him "an hour to leave the city."

"Park in Cleveland, Ohio," 1955-56

A boy reading a newspaper with the headline "Marilyn is dead"

When the 83 photos taken during the trip, were finally published - in 1958 in Paris and in 1959 in the United States - the book hit a barrage of criticism. Partly not without reason: Robert Frank's photographs in no sense were not "popular." They were absolutely incomprehensible and unpleasant to the average American viewer. On the other hand, the book had a great influence on the development of reportage photography of the second half of the XX century. In our time, the book "The Americans" have long since become a classic, has withstood many editions, although it can be and still not very clear to the general public.

Frank Photoworks allocated on the general background of contemporaries and even on the so-called aesthetic parameters: standard professional photography 1950 implied a clear exposition, flat horizons and other "regular" options. Frank's photographs were in contrast to the conventional canons blurred and sometimes even with a "cluttered horizon", which, accordingly, could not go unnoticed by critics.

"Picnic", 1956

Sam Robert Frank told me about his approach to photography in this way: "White and black - the colors of photographs. To me they symbolize hope and despair.

I always say, I do not want to be sentimental, that the photos should not be sentimental, but still I know - I'm sentimental.

I have often been accused that I deliberately distorting the facts to conform to my point of view. This is partly true, because the photographer can not watch life passively. His opinion is - a kind of criticism. But criticism can be, and love. "

"I go to the states. About a year. 500 film clips. I go to the post office, cheap shops, at bus stops. Sleep in cheap hotels. At 7 am, I go to the nearest cafe. I work all the time. I talk a little. I try to be invisible ... "(On the set for the book" The Americans ")

The bus division of seats - "whites" and "for color."

Photo "Congressmen", made in 1955, which is considered one of the key periods in the history of the struggle of African Americans for their rights.

Outdoor male prostitutes, 1955

One of the most famous photos of Franca, in which the author managed to convey great emotion and dynamics.

"Rodeo in New York."

"Male toilet at the station in Memphis," 1955

The American Dream, which sometimes hides the identity of the person.

"Indianapolis", 1955. Period of active fusion cultures in American society. In the photo there is a symbolic motorcycle "Harley Davidson", jeanswear, but it is no longer wearing the white and blacks.

New York, 1955-56.

1956.