“Timeless Streets: MFA Boston Unveils 38 Iconic 1940s Parisian Photographs by Robert Frank”

A total of 38 images by Swiss-American photographer Robert Frank (1924-2019) has been acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), as announced by the institution in a statement last week.

The collection comprises 34 photographs gifted by the June Leaf and Robert Frank Foundation, along with four pieces that were purchased using donated funds from former Citibank CEO John Reed and his spouse Cynthia.

The 38 photographs were produced while Frank resided in Paris in 1949. Several depict urban life, such as children observing a visually impaired street artist and a “circus” trolley. While Frank is predominantly recognized for his groundbreaking 1958 book ”

The Americans, which depicted post-war American culture, the newly acquired photographs were captured during his return to Europe after spending two years in New York.

“We are excited to incorporate these significant photographs into the Museum’s collection, which enrich our understanding of Frank’s journey while enhancing our ability to narrate the story of artistic transatlantic connections,” stated Kristen Gresh, Estrellita and Yousuf Karsh Senior Curator of Photographs at MFA Boston, in an announcement. 

They are presently showcased as part of the exhibition “Robert Frank: Mary’s Book” at the MFA Boston, running until June 22, 2025. This exhibition celebrates a personal compilation of photographs and writings that Frank created for his first wife, Mary Lockspeiser.

In addition, the MFA Boston has acquired the image 4th of July, Jay, New York (1954) from “The Americans”, supported by the Horace W. Goldsmith Fund for Photography.

Another exhibition featuring Frank’s work, titled “Robert Frank’s Scrapbook Footage”, showcasing recordings of Frank’s family, friends, and journeys from 1970 to 2006, curated in a moving-image scrapbook, is also being displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York until spring 2025.