Robert Frank – “The Americans”
What do you notice as you experience each work?
In each photograph that was taken I noticed they are all in black and white, however I also noticed that the photographer didn’t capture amazing moments – all the photographs you see are taking in moments of everyday life for those people during that time.
What can you tell about how it was made?
“The Americans” was made by a collection of photographs all in black and white – showing what each artist thought of America as they tried to capture their best interpretation of the country.
What moods or feelings are expressed in the work? How?
The photographs that are shown in this work piece doesn’t give you a happy feeling – or a good feeling. It’s more like the opposite. The black and white contributes to feeling dull, however it’s more of the people’s expressions – they seem neutral or bored. The facial expressions that are shown in the photographs don’t seem to smile or laugh. Although in some of the photographs the people do seem unaware of photographs being taken. However some people do seem drawn to something.
What do you think this work is about? Why?
I believe this work is showing the everyday life of these people during their times. It also shows things such as racism – the carriage photograph. However the photographer does seem to capture people who are outsiders and not someone who knows what they do and who they are. For example there is a photograph showing an obviously famous women who is all dressed up – but that women is blurred so it focuses on the background towards the woman who isn’t a known person. “The Americans” shows all of what people didn’t want to think Americans were about – the outsiders, the people who don’t fit in.
How would you describe the style of this work?
I would describe the style of this work to be the type of pictures that aren’t planned – the black and white average day of people. You get to see what people do, how the act and to see the atmosphere around them. It shows you how times have changed since then. But I do like the photographs they are unique and each and every one can tell you something. For example a picture of a black women with a white baby – in other photographs there is clearly racism.
How is the artist’s style or point of view expressed in this work?
The artists point of view is shown in this work because you can see how Robert Frank is trying to show what America was like back then – his style of photographs are mainly up close – however he does try and take pictures of many American Flags – to show what it’s like in America maybe? To me it looks like Robert Frank believes that outsiders are everywhere – and to show if you are looking they are easy to spot.
What do the works by these artists working in various media have in common? How do they differ?
Each artist’s photographs are in black and white – however they are all taken in America. Each artist’s photography is very similar because at what they all look at – problems such as racism – or people who are outsiders who don’t normally get noticed. All these photographs express a sad feeling – something upsetting or not particularly happy.
In what ways do you think each work reflects the era in which it was made?
Comparing these photographs to now – you can see clearly by the type of clothing and vehicles that the people have that these images are old. However the photographs do seem older because of the black and white. There is still racism in this century but, separating black and white people does not happen anymore. In these photographs you are able to see how these artists have tried to express racism.
In each photograph that was taken I noticed they are all in black and white, however I also noticed that the photographer didn’t capture amazing moments – all the photographs you see are taking in moments of everyday life for those people during that time.
What can you tell about how it was made?
“The Americans” was made by a collection of photographs all in black and white – showing what each artist thought of America as they tried to capture their best interpretation of the country.
What moods or feelings are expressed in the work? How?
The photographs that are shown in this work piece doesn’t give you a happy feeling – or a good feeling. It’s more like the opposite. The black and white contributes to feeling dull, however it’s more of the people’s expressions – they seem neutral or bored. The facial expressions that are shown in the photographs don’t seem to smile or laugh. Although in some of the photographs the people do seem unaware of photographs being taken. However some people do seem drawn to something.
What do you think this work is about? Why?
I believe this work is showing the everyday life of these people during their times. It also shows things such as racism – the carriage photograph. However the photographer does seem to capture people who are outsiders and not someone who knows what they do and who they are. For example there is a photograph showing an obviously famous women who is all dressed up – but that women is blurred so it focuses on the background towards the woman who isn’t a known person. “The Americans” shows all of what people didn’t want to think Americans were about – the outsiders, the people who don’t fit in.
How would you describe the style of this work?
I would describe the style of this work to be the type of pictures that aren’t planned – the black and white average day of people. You get to see what people do, how the act and to see the atmosphere around them. It shows you how times have changed since then. But I do like the photographs they are unique and each and every one can tell you something. For example a picture of a black women with a white baby – in other photographs there is clearly racism.
How is the artist’s style or point of view expressed in this work?
The artists point of view is shown in this work because you can see how Robert Frank is trying to show what America was like back then – his style of photographs are mainly up close – however he does try and take pictures of many American Flags – to show what it’s like in America maybe? To me it looks like Robert Frank believes that outsiders are everywhere – and to show if you are looking they are easy to spot.
What do the works by these artists working in various media have in common? How do they differ?
Each artist’s photographs are in black and white – however they are all taken in America. Each artist’s photography is very similar because at what they all look at – problems such as racism – or people who are outsiders who don’t normally get noticed. All these photographs express a sad feeling – something upsetting or not particularly happy.
In what ways do you think each work reflects the era in which it was made?
Comparing these photographs to now – you can see clearly by the type of clothing and vehicles that the people have that these images are old. However the photographs do seem older because of the black and white. There is still racism in this century but, separating black and white people does not happen anymore. In these photographs you are able to see how these artists have tried to express racism.