Widely celebrated as one of the most influential photographic books of the 20th century, Robert Frank’s The Americans remains just as relevant today as it was at its release in 1958.

The Americans: An Epic Journey 

In the summer of 1958, right after The Americans was published, Robert Frank turned his attention to filmmaking. At the same time, he began working on a series of still photographs taken from the window of a New York City bus. Aptly titling this series From the Bus, Frank photographed pedestrians in movement, creating cityscape portraits that read like film stills.

In 1958 Robert Frank worked on a series of photographs taken from the window of a city bus.&nbsp; Simultaneously still as well as cinematic, this groundbreaking series remains highly sought after by collectors.

From the Bus 

Robert Frank returned to Paris throughout his career, creating a body of work imbued with affection for the city's streets, cafes, and people. The late 1940s photographs of Paris featured in the Penn Collection are unique within Frank’s early work for their atmospheric and sometimes romantic quality. This characteristic is notably absent in the far grittier photographs that comprise Frank's&nbsp;Americans&nbsp;series of the 1950s.

Robert Frank returned to Paris multiple times throughout his life, creating a body of work that documents the city’s people, landscape, and culture.

Paris, je t'aime

Specialist’s Picks

The photographs Robert Frank took during the afternoon and evening of the July 4th holiday at New York’s Coney Island are haunting and mysterious.

Coney Island  

Coney Island, July 4th, 1958

The first photograph featured in Robert Frank’s The Americans sets the tone for the entire publication.

Go inside Robert Frank’s iconic photograph

Hoboken, New Jersey

New York

SVP, Global Head of Department, Photographs

Emily Bierman

Vice President | Senior Specialist

Aimee Pflieger

Specialist | Photographs 

Aris Kourkoumelis

Paralegal

Caroline Gardiner

Pre-sale Co-ordinator

Juliet McLoughlin

Meet our Specialists

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As the world’s most expansive private collection of Robert Frank photographs, the Arthur S. Penn Collection encompasses several decades of the photographer’s storied career. The Penn Collection demonstrates Robert Frank’s expertise in quietly observing and incisively documenting people and cultures from all walks of life. Well-known images, such as the iconic ‘Hoboken, N. J.’ (Parade), ‘South Carolina’ (Beaufort), and ‘Mississippi – Near Baton Rouge’, are featured, as are many works that are rarely seen on the market. Arthur S. Penn acquired all of the photographs offered in this auction directly from the photographer between 1977 and 1978.

On the Road: Photographs by Robert Frank from the Collection of Arthur S. Penn