Robert Frank

(American/Swiss, 1924–2019)

Robert Frank is a Swiss-born American filmmaker and photographer. Characterized by their pointed and complex critique of American culture and society, his images often capture people in the throes of daily life. “There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment,” he once explained. “This kind of photography is realism. But realism is not enough—there has to be vision, and the two together can make a good photograph.” Born on November 9, 1924 in Zürich, Switzerland, he began studying photography in 1941, and subsequently worked for commercial studios around Switzerland over the next 6 years. In 1947, Frank emigrated to the United States where he was hired by Alexey Brodovitch to produce fashion photos for Harper’s Bazaar. Over the next five years, he produced work for a number of other publications such as LIFE and Vogue. With the aid of his colleague and mentor, Walker Evans, Frank was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. During his fellowship, he traveled throughout the United States, documenting the wide spectrum of its populace. This journey would form the backbone of his work thereafter, leading to the seminal photobook The Americans(1958). Frank subsequently had solo exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1961 and The Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1962. Since 1970, the artist has split his time between New York, NY and Nova Scotia, Canada. Today, his photographs are held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Kunsthaus Zürich, among others.

Robert Frank News

Reviews

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How One of the Greatest Photographers Turned Against Photography
Auctions

Is the Photography Market Sleepy—Or Just Getting Started? Here Are 3 Trends Investment-Minded Collectors Should Know

by Tim Schneider
Is the Photography Market Sleepy—Or Just Getting Started? Here Are 3 Trends Investment-Minded Collectors Should Know
On View

In 1983, Four Major Photographers Worked Together on a Historic Project That Never Saw the Light of Day—Until Now

by Taylor Dafoe
In 1983, Four Major Photographers Worked Together on a Historic Project That Never Saw the Light of Day—Until Now

Robert Frank Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Robert Frank (2,119 results)
'Cleveland Ohio' (Public Park), 1955

Robert Frank

'Cleveland Ohio' (Public Park), 1955

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Arizona' (Car Accident—U. S. 66, Between..., 1956

Robert Frank

'Arizona' (Car Accident—U. S. 66, Between..., 1956

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'From The Bus NYC' (Woman In Doorway), 1960

Robert Frank

'From The Bus NYC' (Woman In Doorway), 1960

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

From the Bus (Crowd On A Sidewalk), 1958

Robert Frank

From the Bus (Crowd On A Sidewalk), 1958

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'NYC Candy Store', 1955

Robert Frank

'NYC Candy Store', 1955

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Nebraska', 1955

Robert Frank

'Nebraska', 1955

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'New York Thru The Window' (Woolworth, New..., 1959

Robert Frank

'New York Thru The Window' (Woolworth, New..., 1959

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Reno', 1956

Robert Frank

'Reno', 1956

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Florida Trip With Jack', 1958

Robert Frank

'Florida Trip With Jack', 1958

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'11th St' (from '11th Street Story/People..., 1951

Robert Frank

'11th St' (from '11th Street Story/People..., 1951

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Chicago' (Man and Pharmacy), 1956

Robert Frank

'Chicago' (Man and Pharmacy), 1956

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Rodeo, Detroit', 1955

Robert Frank

'Rodeo, Detroit', 1955

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Mary and Andrea in NYC', 1956

Robert Frank

'Mary and Andrea in NYC', 1956

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

From the Bus (Man on the Sidewalk), 1958

Robert Frank

From the Bus (Man on the Sidewalk), 1958

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

Striking Worker (Hearns Department Store), 1953

Robert Frank

Striking Worker (Hearns Department Store), 1953

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Hotel Lobby Miami', 1956

Robert Frank

'Hotel Lobby Miami', 1956

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'NYC From The Bus' (Man Waiting in a Truck), 1960

Robert Frank

'NYC From The Bus' (Man Waiting in a Truck), 1960

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'From The Bus' (Woman with Folded Arms), 1958

Robert Frank

'From The Bus' (Woman with Folded Arms), 1958

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'St. Petersburg Fla.', 1958

Robert Frank

'St. Petersburg Fla.', 1958

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Paris' (Sidewalk In The Rain), 1950

Robert Frank

'Paris' (Sidewalk In The Rain), 1950

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

Parc des Tuilleries (Couple With Umbrella), 1949

Robert Frank

Parc des Tuilleries (Couple With Umbrella), 1949

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Paris' (Couple in a Bumper Car), 1951

Robert Frank

'Paris' (Couple in a Bumper Car), 1951

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Wales' (Miner), 1951

Robert Frank

'Wales' (Miner), 1951

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

'Tunnel N.Y./N.J.', 1955

Robert Frank

'Tunnel N.Y./N.J.', 1955

Sale Date: February 22, 2023

Auction Closed

English (US)

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