Robert Frank Exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington
It has taken 50 years, but photographic students now have the chance to examine in detail every nuance of a book that holds an almost mythical place in the heart of many photographers.
The Americans by Robert Frank chronicles his 10,000-mile journey across America at the height of the Cold War, and today, many of the 83 frames contained inside the covers are burned into the collective memory.
The Americans was first published in France and then in the US. It was widely condemned by the critics, as it depicted a country sharply at odds with the America portrayed by Hollywood and the ad men.
Earl A Powell III, the director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, says the book shows “a people plagued by racism, often ill-served by their politicians, intoxicated with the media and celebrities, and infatuated with speed, movement, and even the road itself”. — BBC
