In 1949, the 25-year-old photographer Robert Frank set about making a scrapbook for his soon-to-be wife, Mary Lockspeiser. He titled it Mary’s Book. On the first page he wrote a note in ink: “This is for you. It is not much but I promised you a little story. Maybe this is not a story.” What followed were 74 photographs taken in Paris, sometimes accompanied by inscriptions. Counterintuitively, most of the pictures aren’t of Lockspeiser or even of people. They are images of streets, parks, objects, and monuments—locations and things that reminded Frank of his beloved. This exhibition presents spreads from Mary’s Book as well as photographs from that early Paris sojourn. It celebrates the centennial of Frank’s birth. —Elena Clavarino
The Arts Intel Report
Robert Frank: Mary's Book
Robert Frank, spread from Mary’s Book (detail), 1949.
When
Dec 9–10, 2024
Where
Etc
Photo: © The June Leaf and Robert Frank Foundation