Frank Oscar Larson lived two distinct lives in New York City. During the week, he worked in the high-pressure financial world as an auditor for the Empire Trust Company in Manhattan. On weekends, he traded his ledger for a camera. Born in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in 1896 to Swedish immigrants, Larson was a true native of the city. He served as an artilleryman in World War I and completed college before climbing the corporate ladder. While his 9-to-5 job provided stability, his creative spirit required an outlet. He played the violin and carved wood, but photography eventually became his primary passion.
The Tool of the Trade
In the early 1950s, Larson purchased a medium-format Rolleiflex camera. This distinct twin-lens reflex camera required the photographer to look down into a waist-level viewfinder to compose a shot. The square film format captured high levels of detail and gave his images a unique, balanced composition. Because he did not hold the camera up to his eye, he often operated unnoticed. This allowed him to capture candid moments without disturbing his subjects. Over the next 16 years, he produced thousands of black and white negatives using this equipment.
Weekend Expeditions
Larson approached his hobby with discipline. He left his home early on weekend mornings to document the city before the midday rush. His expeditions took him to diverse neighborhoods, each offering a different visual texture. He frequented the bustling, sign-cluttered streets of Times Square and the narrow, activity-filled roads of Chinatown. He also ventured into the Bowery, an area known at the time for its rough atmosphere and down-on-their-luck residents.
The resulting collection of photographs preserves the everyday reality of 1950s New York. Larson froze moments of ordinary life, from commuters rushing to work to street vendors selling their wares. He balanced these gritty urban scenes with trips to greener spaces. He photographed the stone arches of the Cloisters and the open lawns of Central Park. He also visited Kissena Park in Queens, documenting the quieter side of the outer boroughs. His images reveal the fashion, architecture, and social interactions of a decade that shaped the modern metropolis.
