Robert Frank, a Swiss-born photographer, profoundly reshaped the world of photography with his groundbreaking photo book The Americans. After honing his skills in Switzerland during the 1940s and creating his first photo book 40 Photos, Frank moved to New York in 1947 to work for Harper’s Bazaar. Over the next decade, he worked freelance for major publications and connected with influential photographers like Saul Leiter and Diane Arbus of the New York School.
Frank’s most acclaimed work, The Americans, is considered a cornerstone of street and documentary photography. Supported by a Guggenheim Fellowship — endorsed by legends Edward Steichen and Walker Evans — Frank embarked on a cross-country journey between 1955 and 1957, covering 10,000 miles across 30 states. From this journey, he captured 28,000 images, ultimately selecting just 83 black-and-white photographs for the final book. These images revealed deep social contrasts in post-war America, focusing on themes like cars, race, and the American flag.
Released in 1958, The Americans sold out its first run quickly and has since become one of the most accessible and influential photography books ever made. Its unconventional layout and sequencing challenged the norms of “pure photography,” which emphasized clarity and technical perfection. Frank, in contrast, embraced grain, blur, and imperfect compositions to evoke emotion and convey narrative.
As a Swiss outsider, Frank viewed America with fresh eyes. His journey was not without hardship — he was even arrested and subjected to antisemitic treatment in one town. Yet, he remained committed to shooting extensively, unafraid of burning through film to capture authentic moments. His prolific approach mirrors that of other greats like Garry Winogrand, who left behind thousands of undeveloped rolls.
Frank’s willingness to defy photographic conventions and follow emotional truth rather than technical rules forever altered the expectations of documentary work. By sequencing images to build feeling rather than presenting isolated perfection, Frank turned photography into a storytelling medium. The Americans remains a masterclass in vision, persistence, and the power of challenging the status quo.
