R.I.P. Robert Frank: 60 years on and "The Americans" is still a groundbreaking book of photography. Those 83 shots, selected from over 27,000, are extraordinary. If Robert Frank had...

lsaguy Loc: Udall, KS, USA

60 years on and "The Americans" is still a groundbreaking book of photography. Those 83 shots, selected from over 27,000, are extraordinary. If Robert Frank had stopped there he would be in the pantheon of great photograhers, but he didn't. He always took those two steps in. Thanks Bob, I learn every time I look at your images.

Rick

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I'm a big fan. I went to art school in the '70s, and The Americans was out of print. One photography instructor had an old copy, falling apart, and the class went over it photo by photo. As soon as it was reprinted I got a copy. It got terrible reviews when it first came out - the photos were tilted, grainy, and portrayed America in a bad light. Now it is considered one of the most influential photography books in history.

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

New York Times article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/arts/robert-frank-dead-americans-photography.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Nancysc

Thank you so much for this link.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

krl48 wrote:

New York Times article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/arts/robert-frank-dead-americans-photography.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

Thank you for the link.

kotography4u

There was also a nice tribute piece on him last night on PBS:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/photographer-robert-franks-lens-on-american-life

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

kotography4u wrote:

There was also a nice tribute piece on him last night on PBS:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/photographer-robert-franks-lens-on-american-life

Thank you for the link.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

lsaguy wrote:

60 years on and "The Americans" is still a groundbreaking book of photography. Those 83 shots, selected from over 27,000, are extraordinary. If Robert Frank had stopped there he would be in the pantheon of great photograhers, but he didn't. He always took those two steps in. Thanks Bob, I learn every time I look at your images.

Rick

Thanks for the info, Rick. I minimized this for a minute, went to eBay, and bought a copy. I will look forward to receiving it and viewing the images.

Nancysc

Did a little research and the first edition was in France in 1958, followed by one in US in 1959, with an intro by Jack Kerouac. New edition by Steidl in 2008 with photos presented in full frame (not cropped as in first two editions). None of these are available on Amazon, but the Steidl is on order. I looked for the older/originals on alibris and abe books but did not come up with anything. Will check out eBay as suggested.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Nancysc wrote:

Did a little research and the first edition was in France in 1958, followed by one in US in 1959, with an intro by Jack Kerouac. New edition by Steidl in 2008 with photos presented in full frame (not cropped as in first two editions). None of these are available on Amazon, but the Steidl is on order. I looked for the older/originals on alibris and abe books but did not come up with anything. Will check out eBay as suggested.

My copy was the third printing, in 1978, published by Aperture. I'll bet the first two editions have some collectors' value.

Nancysc

I saw a 1959 first US edition for $5000 and a 1958 first French edition for $2500 on eBay. There are several listings of the Aperture edition. I bought a "new" copy of the 2008 for $5.99 postage included.

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

One who deserves his spot in the Pantheon.

Andy