Diane ArbusBy: Jennifer Karr
Background Born on March 14, 1923 From New York Middle child of 3 (1 brother, 1 sister) Jewish Wealthy Shy
Education Ethical Culture School Fieldston School Alexey Brodovitch’s workshop
(unsuccessful) New School- Lisette Model’s class
› first mentor› helped identify her desired path
Romance Met Allan at age 14 Parents did not approve Secret meeting for 4 years Married April 10, 1941
About work Freaks Central Park, New York City, nudist
camps, carnivals Leica Rolleiflex Square Frame Mamiya C33 Flash gave exposed and vulnerable
look Pentax
Work Father gave first job Account with Russeks Furs- fifth avenue
department store Allan and Diane Arbus studio Diane- style Allan- technical
Work Esquire Magazine (nightlife of NY): “The Vertical Journey”- first major magazine
assignment 2nd mentor: Marvin Israel
› Supported and pursued ideas› Which photograph to choose from contact sheet› Introduced her to influential people› Director of Harpers Bazaar
Sunday Times Magazine, Nova, Vogue, Glamour Show, Sports Illustrated & New York Times
Unsuccessful work
Nude photographs of actor Viva Lawsuit (later dropped) Viva felt misled and lied to Lost over a million dollars “Recent Acquisitions”
› Early photographs› spit on photographs
“New Documents” freak› Modern photography
Exhibited work Museum of Modern Art “Recent Acquisitions” “New Documents” ArtForum published portfolio
› pictures of mentally retarted at a home in Vineland
Venice Biennale› Contemporary art exhibition every 2
years
“New Documents” A Young Man in Curlers at Home
Confrontational Strong reaction
› Spit
The Jungle Creep After viewing
movie called “Freaks” which featured “midgets, pinheads and dwarfs”
Flea circus
The Marked Man
306 tattoos Swore not to
reveal whereabouts
Jewish Giant
Eddie Carmel Made famous by
photo Mother’s reaction
Child With a Toy Hand Grenade
Mime Impatience
Awards Guggenheim Fellowships to pursue
private work Robert Levitt Award for outstanding
achievement› Taught classes and workshops› Gave lectures
End of Life 1968- hospitalized with Hepatitis Loosing strength and independence Depression Divorce Closing of Arbus studio Suicide (depression and need for
money)
Posthumous Work Museum of Modern Art Around United States and Europe Metropolitan Museum of New York
› “Diane Arbus Revelations”› Overview of life work› Acceptance of work began
Why She Appealed Risk taker of “different work” Not easily accepted Tough life
Continues to Appeal Late acceptance Changed the way we identify each
other as human beings Combine exaggerated with personal
Works Cited http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/arbu
s-diane
http://www.biography.com/people/diane-arbus-9187461
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/arbus.html?c=y&page=1