Robert Frank

"When people look at my pictures I want them to feel the way they do when they want to read a line of a poem twice." Robert Frank, LIFE

Robert Frank was born on November 9, 1924 in Zurich, Switzerland. He was raised in a wealthy, Jewish home with his parents Rosa and Hermann. During WWI era, he turned to photography as an escape from his family and home. In 1946, he created his first photography book, 40 Fotos.

He emigrated to the United States in 1947, and became a fashion photographer for Harper's Bazaar in New York. He traveled to South America and Europe, and created another book of photographs. In 1950, he met Edward Steichen, which enabled him to become a part of the showing called 51 American Photographers at the MoMA.

One of his most popular works, The Americans, was a book that was highly influenced on the war. It was first released in France in 1958, then released in the United States in 1959. It also included Jack Kerouac's writings in the US version's introduction.

http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/frankinfo.shtm