Though he was born in Switzerland, photographer Robert Frank’s greatest legacy was his representation of places and figures across the United States, the bulk of which was published in a seminal book titled The Americans.
Frank emigrated to America in 1948, settling in New York City, where he was hired as a fashion photographer for Harper’s Bazaar by the magazine’s legendary art director Alexey Brodovitch, who also recruited Lisette Model, Richard Avedon and mid-century-era style-setting couple Leslie Gill and Frances McLaughlin-Gill. Frank’s artistic style — and use of a 35mm Leica, an unconventional choice in the fashion world — proved not to be a fit, however, and he left the job after a few months. He went on to produce street photography around the city while working freelance jobs for the likes of Vogue, Life and other publications.
But it was leaving New York that would produce Frank’s most notable work. Throughout the 1950s, with the support of a Guggenheim Fellowship and guidance from Walker Evans, he embarked on a series of cross-country road trips, traversing nearly every state in the continental U.S. and producing a wealth of arresting photographs of its inhabitants. The black-and-white images pioneered what became known as a “snapshot aesthetic,” capturing a spontaneous moment. Subjects are often out of focus and rarely looking toward the camera, and rippled fabric or bent grasses often suggest movement and breeze.
After an initial publication in France, where the photographs appear alongside essays, The Americans was released in the U.S. in 1959 with a foreword by author Jack Kerouac, who espoused Frank’s ability to capture a uniquely American spirit.
“That crazy feeling in America,” Kerouac wrote, “when the sun is hot and music comes out of the jukebox or from a nearby funeral, that’s what Robert Frank has captured in tremendous photographs taken as he traveled on the road around practically forty-eight states in an old used car.”
Following the release of The Americans, Frank turned much of his attention to film. He would go on to produce a film version of Kerouac’s The Beat Generation and cofounded the New American Cinema Group in 1960. He died in 2019.
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$25,000
Hollywood
By Robert Frank
Located in New York, NY
It's hard to imagine an approach to photography that contrasted more with Robert Frank’s freewheeling style than Hollywood’s glamour shots of film stars in the 1950s. The stills depa...
Silver Gelatin
Robert Frank, Paris, 1951, Black and White Photography, Tulips
By Robert Frank
Located in London, GB
Paris - Robert Frank (Black and White Photography) Signed and dated Silver gelatin print, printed 1970s 14 x 11 inches Frank’s photographs focused on elements of everyday life that ...
Silver Gelatin
$1,340
H 40 in W 30 in
Swan Dive (1956) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized
By H. Armstrong Roberts
Located in London, GB
Swan Dive (1956) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/Alamy) 1st March 1956. A man swan diving from the high diving boar...
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$1,340
H 30 in W 40 in
Spectator Tennis (1938) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized
By H. Armstrong Roberts
Located in London, GB
Spectator Tennis (1938) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/Alamy) 1st December 1938. Spectators watching a tennis match at a country club. Addi...
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
President JFK in the Oval Office
By Jacques Lowe
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Jacques Lowe, (born Jan. 24, 1930, Cologne, Ger.—died May 12, 2001, New York, N.Y.) (born Jan. 24, 1930, Cologne, Ger.—died May 12, 2001, New York, N.Y.) German-born American photogr...
Silver Gelatin
$5,000
H 11 in W 14 in
"First day in Office" President John F. Kennedy, The Oval Office, Washington D.C
By Jacques Lowe
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Jacques Lowe, (born Jan. 24, 1930, Cologne, Ger.—died May 12, 2001, New York, N.Y.) (born Jan. 24, 1930, Cologne, Ger.—died May 12, 2001, New York, N.Y.) German-born American photogr...
Silver Gelatin
'Tennis Legends' 1980 Silver Gelatin Print
Located in London, GB
'John McEnroe' 1981 Silver Gelatin Print by Watfiord / Mirror Group Archives. Wimbledon 3rd Day: John McEnroe. June 1981 The famous tennis star icon won at the All England Club championships that year, finally beating his long term rival Bjorn Borg...
Silver Gelatin
$1,340
H 40 in W 30 in
The Eiffel Tower (1929) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized
By H. Armstrong Roberts
Located in London, GB
The Eiffel Tower (1929) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/Alamy) Eiffel Tower built in 1889 seen from Trocadero wrought iron doors Paris France, circa 1929. Additional Information: Unframed Paper Size: 40x30'' Printed Later Silver Gelatin Fibre Print NOTE OTHER SIZES OF THIS IMAGE AVAILABLE 10 x 12'' 12 x 16'' 16 x 20'' 20 x 24'' 20 x 30'' 30 x 40'' FRAMING AVAILABLE ON REQUEST About the Artist: H. Armstrong ROBERTS (1883-1947) is an artist born in 1883 The oldest auction result ever registered on the website for an artwork by this artist is a photography sold in 2012. ACTORS ON SET, Bette Davis, Ladies Fashion...
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$1,340
H 30 in W 40 in
Nude Portrait - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized
By H. Armstrong Roberts
Located in London, GB
Nude Portrait - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/Alamy) A woman poses for a nude studio portrait. Additional Information: Unframed Paper Si...
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$1,354
H 30 in W 40 in
Thames Divers (1934) - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print
Located in London, GB
Thames Divers (1934) - Silver Gelatin Fibre Print (Photo by H F Davis/Getty Images Archive) Two divers jumping off the Embankment into the River Thames in London, near Westminster...
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$1,580
H 60 in W 40 in
Ballerina Split (1970) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized
By H. Armstrong Roberts
Located in London, GB
Ballerina Split (1970) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/Alamy) Side view of a prima ballerina, standing in a split, with a row of 8 backing da...
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$1,340
H 40 in W 30 in
Tee Off (1939) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized
By H. Armstrong Roberts
Located in London, GB
Tee Off (1939) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/Alamy) 6th April 1939. A man playing golf teeing-off golf ball from tee with driver outdoor. ...
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
$1,340
H 30 in W 40 in
Ski Jumping (1964) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized
By H. Armstrong Roberts
Located in London, GB
Ski Jumping (1964) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/Alamy) A man skiing downhill and jumping into the air, circa 1964...
Black and White, Silver Gelatin
Biwa Lake Tree, Study 5, Omi, Honshu, Japan
By Michael Kenna
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Gelatin Silver print mounted to archival board. Stamped on verso with signature, title, number and date in pencil. Signed, numbered and dated in pencil on recto. Edition of 45.
Silver Gelatin
The Americans: 81 Contact Sheets
By Robert Frank
Located in New York, NY
The is the last remaining set available by any gallery. Danziger Gallery is pleased to present the legendary but rarely seen limited edition portfolio “ROBERT FRANK - THE AMERICAN...
Photographic Film, Lithograph, Silver Gelatin
Original Rolling Stones, Exile on Main Street Vinyl Record
By Robert Frank
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Vintage Original Rolling Stones Exile on Main Street Vinyl 1st Pressing, 1972 Photography/Artwork by Robert Frank Cover, inserts & both rec...
Offset
Untitled, Amusement Park
By Robert Frank
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Signed on the back of the print, lower right. Exhibited Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, 1985.
Silver Gelatin
Motorama, Los Angeles
By Robert Frank
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Signed on the front of the print, lower right in black ink. Exhibited Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, 1985.
Silver Gelatin
Photo Booth
By Robert Frank
Located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Signed on the front of the print, lower right in black ink. Exhibited Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, 1985.
Silver Gelatin