The 10 most collectible photography books of all time. Robert frank exhibition catalogs, books, bibliography, biography. Robert frank began studying photography in 1941 and spent the next six years working for commercial photography and graphic design studios in zurich, geneva, and basel. He joined cnbc in may 2012 as a reporter and editor and is host of secret lives. Franks other important projects include the books black, white and things 1952, the lines of my hand 1972 and the film. This is the photo book that redefined what a photo book could be personal, poetic, real.
How robert franks book the americans redefined american. First published in 1959, robert frank s masterpiece still holds up the selection of photos, and their sequence and pacing is fresh, rich, generous, and stunning. In his introduction to robert frank s seminal photo book, the americans, jack kerouac claimed the photographer had captured scenes that have never been seen before on film. Sometimes these books have captured an era or a location, sometimes they have helped to coin an artistic trend, sometimes they are simply the finest work of a. The beauty of this book is the mundane situations forever caught on film moments that appeared and thanks to frank didnt as they otherwise would have, disappear. The americansrobert franks masterpiece and perhaps the most influential photography book of the twentieth centuryis back in stock at last. Roberts influence on me is a lesson on how not to change. In this book, peter galassi covers the period preceding the initial publication of the seminal the americans in1959 and the background of what was going on in the world of photography and the difficulties encountered by early photographers of franks ilk in terms of publication politics, resistance. Critic sean ohagan, writing in the guardian in 2014, said the americans changed the nature of photography, what it. Initially criticized as an assault on america, the book is now celebrated as an influential work of 20thcentury photography, juxtaposing 50s optimism with poverty and race issues. Photo lovers, students, librarians, teachers and bookstores across the land, rejoice.
Robert frank biography western connecticut state university. Sep 12, 2019 robert s influence on me is a lesson on how not to change. Aug 20, 2017 this exhibition dedicated to frank focuses on the museums latest acquisition of the artist s work, his 2014 book, partida. Robert frank born november 9, 1924 is a swissamerican photographer and documentary filmmaker. In 1949, he met the artist mary lockspeiser, nine years his junior, and gave her, too, a handmade book of photographs, which he had taken that. Robert frank is an awardwinning journalist, bestselling author and a leading authority on the american wealthy. These photographs feature glimpses of highways, cars, parades, jukeboxes, and diners as iconic symbols. The art and life of robert frank by rj smith hardcover. Robert frank cast secret lives of the super rich cnbc prime. Collectors are willing to pay steep prices for the worlds finest photography books. To date, the mfah has circulated his films to hundreds of venues worldwide. See all books authored by robert frank, including the americans, and robert frank pantheon photo library, vol 4, and more on.
While frank s main objective with the americans was to document the everyday existence of the american people, u. The second of two children, frank was an athletic youth. Frank became associated with the socalled beat circle, a group of poets, writers and artists beatniks who exemplified the apolitical. Robert frank books list of books by author robert frank. The museums photography curator at the time, hugh edwards, purchased 30 photographs from this nowlegendary series for the permanent. The journey would dramatically alter the artist s impression of america. Robert frank was born in zurich in 1924 and immigrated to the united states in 1947. New york to nova scotia, featuring his photographs and films. His father, hermann frank, of frankfurtammain, germany, was a successful and welleducated businessman, who was an amateur photographer and interested in art. One of the most acclaimed photographers of the 20th century, robert frank is best known for his seminal book the americans, featuring photographs taken by the artist in the mid1950s as he traveled across the u. His love of drawing and painting, combined with architecture, led him to a. The mfah began collecting the photographs of robert frank 19242019 in the early 1980s.
Frank robert harper was activelived in illinois, michigan. These photographs feature glimpses of highways, cars, parades, jukeboxes, and diners as iconic symbols of america while simultaneously suggesting an. This early work predates the americans and demonstrates franks predilection for pictorial juxtapositions. Books of photographs by robert frank national gallery of art. Frank robert harper 1876 1948 frank robert harper was activelived in illinois, michigan. He is best known for his seminal book the americans, first. Critic sean ohagan, writing in the guardian in 2014, said the americans. New york to nova scotia, a retrospective of the photographers work accompanied by a book under the same title. He is best known for his seminal book the americans, first published in 1958, which gave rise to a distinctly new form of the photobook, and his experimental film pull my daisy 1959. In 195556 frank traveled the united states from new york to california, making the photographs that would constitute his landmark book the americans 1958.
In 1961, he and harry callahan were the subjects of a joint retrospective at the museum. As wellknown as robert frank the photographer is, few can say they really know robert frank the man. Few photographers have managed to capture the american life and culture as honestly as robert frank. That same year, the mfah and kuhttv produced the first documentary about the artist. Published in 1952 while frank was in zurich, the book. The photographs were notable for their distanced view of both high and low strata of american society. Aperture museum of modern art 1968 sticker grossman on back cover. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The americans is a photographic book by robert frank which was highly influential in postwar.
Robert frank les americains hardcover cover drawings by saul steinberg. Robert frank parade hoboken, new jersey 1955 artsy. The following year grove press published the americans in new york with an introduction by jack kerouac the book was released in january 1960. New york was included in the exhibition and the book to emphasize the artist s early fascination with new york upon his. This book, based on the important frank collection at the cantor arts center at. Sep 11, 2019 robert frank, at age ninetyfour, with his wife, june leaf, at their home on bleecker street, in new york. Nov 07, 2017 robert franks favorite picture from his seminal photo book the americanspublished in france in 1958 and then a year later in the u. In 1986, the museum of fine arts in houston presented robert frank.
Artist interviews watch ruth asawa on her forms and materials watch sahar khoury on creative repair watch dawoud bey on visualizing history. The americans was the work of swissborn photographer robert frank, and the national gallery of art is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the books american debut with an exhibition. Robert frank is best known for his seminal book the americans, featuring photographs taken by the artist in the mid1950s as he traveled across the u. Get the best deals on robert frank art prints when you shop the largest online selection at. Robert franks favorite picture from his seminal photo book the americanspublished in france in 1958 and then a year later in the u. The photographs from his seminal book the americans, which took a critical look at our nations life in the. Also in 1986, the museum took on an active role in preserving and distributing the artist s films. He is perhaps best known for the photography collection the americans 1959, with an introduction by jack kerouac.
Robert frank revolutionized photography and independent film. Snaps of time captured with a camera to be immortalized. Nov 07, 2017 from the author of the acclaimed james brown biography the one comes the first indepth biography of renowned photographer and filmmaker robert frank, best known for his landmark book the americans. In october of 1958, french publisher robert delpire released les americains in paris.
This is the photo book that redefined what a photo book. The americans is a photographic book by robert frank which was highly influential in postwar american photography. Robert frank was born in zurich, switzerland, in 1924 and emigrated to the united states in 1947. Robert frank, swiss american photographer and director who was one of the most influential photographers of the mid20th century, noted for his ironic renderings of american life. In 2003, the museum presented the exhibition for robert. See available photographs, prints and multiples, and design for sale and learn about the artist. Pioneering a revolutionary approach to photography and filmmaking, he combines autobiographical and poetic elements to produce straight blackandwhite images that transcend the specific. This is the bumpy ride, revealed with unblinking honesty by the reclusive artist himself. Robert frank, the american artist whose photographs captured the lives of everyday people and influenced a generation with his raw and evocative style, has died. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Robert frank is a swissborn american filmmaker and photographer.
The americans was the work of swissborn photographer robert frank, and the national gallery of art is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the book s american debut with an exhibition. Sep 10, 2019 robert frank was born in switzerland in 1924. Frank, robert robert frank artist page with links to monographs, museum exhibition catalogs, criticism, catalogues raisonnes, related publications, and. Sep 10, 2019 robert frank, the fiercely independent photographer and filmmaker whose bleak yet poetic book the americans jolted the nations selfimage and sparked a photographic revolution, has died.
In this rare interview, photographer robert frank discusses his seminal book the americans 1958. The artist has caused a stir with his latest photography book, which takes a robert frank classic and, well. The image was featured in black and white things, a handcrafted book designed by franks friend, werner zryd. One of the most influential artists in the history of photography, frank received his first museum exposure in edward steichens 1950 moma group show photographs by 51 photographers. Popup exhibition installation and deinstallation open to the public may 11 and may 26. It was first published in france in 1958, and the following year in the united states. How robert franks vision influenced and inspired generations. From the author of the acclaimed james brown biography the one comes the first indepth biography of renowned photographer and filmmaker robert frank, best known for his landmark book the americans. In 1986, the museum organized the seminal exhibition robert frank. Robert frank november 9, 1924 september 9, 2019 was a swiss photographer and documentary filmmaker, who became an american binational. Sep 10, 2019 the photographer robert frank, who was known for his visually raw and personally expressive style.
In 1961 with the americans, the art institute of chicago became the first museum to accord robert frank american, born switzerland 1924 a solo exhibition. Robert frank is one of the most influential of all postwar photographers. Sep 10, 2019 robert frank, the american artist whose photographs captured the lives of everyday people and influenced a generation with his raw and evocative style, has died aged 94 the swissborn. In 1947 he traveled to the united states, where alexey brodovitch hired him to make fashion photographs at harpers bazaar. Robert frank has 63 books on goodreads with 18155 ratings. How robert franks photographs helped define america the. Robert frank the americans first softcover edition second american third overall. Frank became associated with the socalled beat circle, a group of poets, writers and artists beatniks who exemplified the apolitical, freeform spirit of postwar. Robert frank collection the museum of fine arts, houston.
I first met him about 40 years ago, when someone phoned me at my apartment in dorchester, mass. The americans photographs by robert frank lensculture. Created in the 1950s during a series of road trips through the united. The photographer robert frank, who was known for his visually raw and personally expressive style. Robert frank the americans, grossman, 1968, new york. The museum of modern arts relationship with robert frank goes back more than a half century. Frank had been inspired by the work of walker evans, and especially his photographs of battered american highways. Tuggener was a role model for the younger artist, first mentioned to him by franks boss and mentor, zurich commercial photographer michael. He documented the beats, welsh coal miners, peruvian indians, the stones, london bankers, and the americans. Born in 1924 in zurich, switzerland, robert frank was raised in comfortable, middleclass surroundings. Rolling stones, exile on main street 2x matted 40x28 framed art by robert frank. Robert frank, the fiercely independent photographer and filmmaker whose bleak yet poetic book the americans jolted the nations selfimage and sparked a photographic revolution, has died.
This is the photo book that redefined what a photo book could be personal, poetic. Robert frank came to artistic eminence following the publication of his seminal book the americans which is regarded to this day as one of the most influential photography projects of the 20th century. Rare editions from the likes of robert frank, henri cartierbresson, irving penn and ansel adams are among the most soughtafter of all art books. Auction records 12 for sale 0 signatures 1 biography.
Photograph by chester higgins frank was born in switzerland, in 1924, to a swiss mother. Dec 28, 2010 robert frank the americans the art of photography. Robert frank is the photographic equivalent of rimbaud, tod. Robert frank graduated from the rhode island school of design with a bfa in architecture. The journey would dramatically alter the artists impression of america. The works are surrounded by photographs chosen from the artist s gift to the museum in 2000. Frank harper is known for childrens book illustration, newspaper artist, automobile design.
New york was included in the exhibition and the book to emphasize the artist s early fascination with new york upon his move. Sometimes with his wife, the artist mary frank, and two children in tow, frank drove 10,000 miles, taking some 27,000 images of the scenes he. Robert frank, at age ninetyfour, with his wife, june leaf, at their home on bleecker street, in new york. The americans robert frank is an extraordinary photo book of ordinary americans. Nov 02, 2004 robert frank is one of the most influential of all postwar photographers. The following year grove press published the americans in new york with an introduction by jack kerouac the book was released in january 1960 like franks earlier books, the sequence of 83 pictures in the americans is nonnarrative and nonlinear. The robert frank collection national gallery of art. When he was in his early 20s and still living in zurich, he put together a spiralbound, handmade book, 40 fotos, which included multiple. Sep 10, 2019 sometimes with his wife, the artist mary frank, and two children in tow, frank drove 10,000 miles, taking some 27,000 images of the scenes he saw along the way.