It is often through the eyes of an outsider that we are most able to see ourselves clearly. The collection of iconic images that Swiss photographer Robert Frank captured on his 10,000-mile road trip across America amounts to nothing less than a historical document and a landmark in American culture.
Although it is barely a minute long, I wanted to bring you this very short video today because it introduces a seminal work in American photography that every photographer should be aware of.
Robert Frank’s The Americans is an inspiring collection of images captured during the years 1955 and 1956 in the course of the photographer's extended road trip across America. Capturing the lives of Americans from all strata of society, including those marginalized and living on its fringes, Frank’s work takes an unflinching look at the state of the American Dream in the 1950s.
On one hand, this collection of images is a historical document—a profound and deeply moving critique of American society in the mid-20th century, with all of its divisions and inequities. On the other hand, Frank’s work changed photography forever by shifting our perception of what comprises a worthy subject for photography, and what it is that gives a photograph its artistic quality.
Frank’s timing was also almost supernaturally prescient. The 1950s was the era of the Beat Generation, a literary subculture whose iconoclastic rejection of the status quo would eventually be the seeds of the hippie counterculture movement of the 1960s. Such was the cultural significance of The Americans that Jack Kerouac, one of the Beat Generation’s most prominent and visible artists, would pen the foreword to the book.
In this latest video from the YouTube channel of Tatiana Hopper, Tatiana offers a very brief introduction to Frank’s iconic collection of images. Watching this video is one minute very well spent for any photographer who had never previously encountered The Americans or was perhaps unaware of its cultural significance in the canon of American photography. My own copy of The Americans (which I used, by the way, to create the lead image for this article) is never far from my hands, and it is truly a book that you can go back to time and time again to enjoy its profound artistry and, of course, to draw inspiration for your own work.
Gordon, this article is a great reminder of how transformative *The Americans* was in redefining photography as an art form. Robert Frank’s raw and unfiltered approach not only captured the complexities of American society but also challenged the conventions of what makes an image compelling. His ability to turn everyday moments into powerful social commentary is something that continues to inspire photographers today.
I also did not realize that Frank was Swiss, which adds another layer to his perspective. Seeing America through the eyes of an outsider likely gave him a unique ability to capture its contradictions with both distance and intimacy.
As a fashion and editorial photographer, I often look to storytelling beyond the glossy and curated. Frank’s work underscores the power of authenticity—something that remains just as relevant in fashion as it does in documentary photography. His influence can be seen in editorial styles that embrace imperfection, spontaneity, and real emotion.
Here are some of my favorite photo books: https://kisau.com/shop/the-book-corner/
With the digital age offering endless ways to document and share imagery, how do you think Frank’s approach would translate to modern photography today?
Paul Tocatlian
Kisau Photography
www.kisau.com
I think Frank was one of the photographers who made the "ordinary" world and "ordinary" people acceptable as artistic subjects for photography. Many photographers have followed in his footsteps since, and it's now thoroughly mainstream. Just look at the volume of street photography that people are posting online.
It’s one of my favorite photo books—a constant source of inspiration that reminds me of the power of authenticity in photography. I find myself returning to it often, rediscovering the essence of genuine storytelling through each image.
Paul, you must get this book: "Edward Steichen In High Fashion"
It is exquisitely printed with a fascinating story to accompany the photographs. If I were starting a career in my 20s, this book would inspire me to become a portrait photographer. Alas, I can only dream of making photographs like that. Of all the books in my collection, this is near the top of the list of my most prized.
Thanks, Ed! I just ordered the book and can’t wait to dive in. I’m always on the lookout for great reads on fashion and photography—especially as I’m currently working on an in-depth article about how photography has shaped fashion through the decades.
One of my favorite books on this topic highlights Norman Parkinson and his work for Vogue and other publications. I’ve always admired how he took fashion photography beyond the studio and into real-world locations, a creative shift that has deeply influenced my own approach behind the lens.
https://kisau.com/2025/01/22/norman-parkinson-style-photographs-for-vogu...
Paul Tocatlian
Kisau Photography
www.kisau.com
I hope you don't find the photography in this book outdated. Well of course, it's outdated... it's a hundred years old. What I meant is that I hope you find it interesting, relevant and inspiring in some way. I was initially quite conflicted in what I was seeing... lots of dark shadows without detail, not much light on the subject's face; but then my wife pointed out that his job was to sell fashion, not pretty faces. And I keep looking at the photography because it keeps calling me back to look again. It's a great inspiration in black and white work, no matter the genre.
Can't agree more with the 1st line !
thanks for sharing this body of work
Fyi...your link on the 3rd paragraph is pointing to mazon.com instead of amazon.com.
Thank You!