Robert Frank

signed, titled, and dated in ink in the margin, the photographer's copyright stamp, with credit and date in ink, and his 'Robert Frank Archive' stamp, with title, date, and number '292' in pencil, on the reverse, 1947

Lunn Gallery/Graphics International Ltd., Washington, D. C., 1979

'Robert Frank: Swiss Mister,' Photo Arts, December 1951, pp. 594-595

This early, warm-toned print, on double-weight paper with a slight surface sheen, is in generally very good condition. The edges are somewhat rubbed, and the corners are slightly bumped. There is waviness in the print at the upper margin edge and less so in the lower central portion of the print. When examined closely, some small areas of a slightly warmer tonal shift are visible in the bodies of the mannequins at the left and at the right. When examined in raking light, there is a 7/8-inch linear indentation, not breaking the emulsion, in the lower center of the print. The reverse of the print is lightly soiled. When examined with ultraviolet light, this print does not appear to fluoresce.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This surprising, early Robert Frank image was reproduced as a two-page lead-in to a selection of Frank’s photographs published in the December 1951 issue of Photo Arts,an American photography magazine.  Combining work made in Europe and America, the portfolio of seven Frank photographs is markedly varied in terms of subject matter and approach.  This image of mannequins’ heads in a Parisian shop window is the standout of the group.  While the unavoidable comparison is to the photographs of mannequins in shop windows made by Atget in the same city decades earlier, this image is classic Frank in the grittiness of its depiction, the spontaneity of its execution, and tightness of its framing.  It is a street-photographer’s view of the glamour of cosmetic beauty, as seen by Frank’s characteristically perceptive eye. 

As of this writing, only one other print of this image has been located: the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University has a print of this image in a longer horizontal format than the photograph offered here.  The cropping of the Cantor Arts Center print closely matches the reproduction of this image in Photo Arts.