Peder Lund

Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus

September 3, 2011 – October 8, 2011

When Diane Arbus took her own life July 26, 1971, she was at the top of a career that had taken her from relative success as a fashion photographer in the 1950s to becoming one of the most esteemed contemporary art photographers of her time. She gained legendary status shortly after her death. Arbus’ photographs have often been interpreted as testimonies of her biography. This interpretation may have increased the popularity of her photographs, but has overshadowed aspects that are equally interesting.

Arbus’ daughters Amy and Doon Arbus have protected her interests with a keen eye on how her heritage has been managed. Copyright laws have been stringent and relatively few works have circulated in exhibitions, publications and on the art market. Only with long intervals have the Estate of Diane Arbus released previously unpublished material from her archive. The Estate has also been restrictive in the use of her works as illustrations. The author of the only biography on Arbus, published in 1984, was not allowed to reprint her photographs in the book. This has resulted in a reception of her work that rests on a small number of photographs only; primarily those circulated in exhibitions and in books published in the 1970s. As we know that Arbus was a remarkably active photographer – always with her camera close at hand – there is reason to believe that our understanding of what her art represents will be modified and elaborated as the knowledge of her body of work emerges.

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Works

A family on their lawn one Sunday in Westchester, N.Y., 1968, printed 1969 - 71

A family on their lawn one Sunday in Westchester, N.Y., 1968, printed 1969 - 71

Diane Arbus

A Family one Evening in a Nudist Camp, Pa., 1965

A Family one Evening in a Nudist Camp, Pa., 1965

Diane Arbus

A house on a hill, Hollywood, Ca., 1963, printed 1963

A house on a hill, Hollywood, Ca., 1963, printed 1963

Diane Arbus

A Jewish giant at home with his parents in the Bronx, N.Y., 1970, printed 1970 - 71

A Jewish giant at home with his parents in the Bronx, N.Y., 1970, printed 1970 - 71

Diane Arbus

A lobby in a building, N.Y.C., 1966, printed 1966 - 67

A lobby in a building, N.Y.C., 1966, printed 1966 - 67

Diane Arbus

A rock in Disneyland, Cal., 1962, printed 1962 - 64

A rock in Disneyland, Cal., 1962, printed 1962 - 64

Diane Arbus

A widow in her bedroom, N.Y.C., 1963, printed 1963 - 65

A widow in her bedroom, N.Y.C., 1963, printed 1963 - 65

Diane Arbus

A young girl at a nudist camp, Pa., 1965, printed 1965 - 67

A young girl at a nudist camp, Pa., 1965, printed 1965 - 67

Diane Arbus

A young man in curlers at home on West 20th Street, N.Y.C., 1966, printed 1966 - 67

A young man in curlers at home on West 20th Street, N.Y.C., 1966, printed 1966 - 67

Diane Arbus

Department store Santa Claus at the training school, Albion, N.Y., 1964, printed 1964

Department store Santa Claus at the training school, Albion, N.Y., 1964, printed 1964

Diane Arbus

Exasperated boy with toy hand grenade, N.Y.C. [Child with a toy hand grenade in Central Park, N.Y.C.], 1962

Exasperated boy with toy hand grenade, N.Y.C. [Child with a toy hand grenade in Central Park, N.Y.C.], 1962

Diane Arbus

Frankenstein's Daughter, 1958, printed 1958 - 60

Frankenstein's Daughter, 1958, printed 1958 - 60

Diane Arbus

Identical twins, Roselle, N.J., 1966, printed 1966 - 67

Identical twins, Roselle, N.J., 1966, printed 1966 - 67

Diane Arbus

Nudist lady with swan sunglasses, Pa., 1965, printed 1967 - 69

Nudist lady with swan sunglasses, Pa., 1965, printed 1967 - 69

Diane Arbus

Rocks on wheels, Disneyland, Cal., 1962, printed 1962 - 63

Rocks on wheels, Disneyland, Cal., 1962, printed 1962 - 63

Diane Arbus

Siamese twins in a carnival tent, N.J., 1961, printed 1963 - 65

Siamese twins in a carnival tent, N.J., 1961, printed 1963 - 65

Diane Arbus

Teenage couple on Hudson Street, N.Y.C., 1963, printed 1967 - 68

Teenage couple on Hudson Street, N.Y.C., 1963, printed 1967 - 68

Diane Arbus

The House of Horrors, Coney Island., 1962, printed 1962 - 63

The House of Horrors, Coney Island., 1962, printed 1962 - 63

Diane Arbus

Untitled #15, 1970 - 71, printed 1970 - 71

Untitled #15, 1970 - 71, printed 1970 - 71

Diane Arbus

Windblown newspaper, N.Y.C., 1956, printed 1956 - 57

Windblown newspaper, N.Y.C., 1956, printed 1956 - 57

Diane Arbus

Xmas tree in a living room in Levittown, L.I., 1963, printed 1969 - 71

Xmas tree in a living room in Levittown, L.I., 1963, printed 1969 - 71

Diane Arbus