How Diane Arbus Transformed Photography by Focusing on the Unseen and the Uncanny
In short: Diane Arbus redefined photography by capturing the psychological intensity of people living on the margins. By moving beyond traditional boundaries and befriending her subjects, she created haunting, direct portraits that challenged societal norms. Her work remains a seminal influence, even shaping iconic cinematic imagery like the twins in The Shining.
Born into a wealthy New York family in 1923, Diane Arbus initially worked in commercial fashion photography with her husband, Allan. However, she grew dissatisfied with the industry's artifice. After studying with Lisette Model in 1956, she abandoned commercial work to pursue her own vision, embracing a direct, unadorned style. She famously transitioned from a 35mm Nikon to a Rolleiflex camera around 1962, favoring the clarity of square-format images to capture the specific differences between people.
Arbus was drawn to subjects who were visibly constructing their identities or living outside mainstream comfort, including carnival performers, nudists, and people with dwarfism. Her 1967 inclusion in the MoMA exhibition New Documents, curated by John Szarkowski, marked a turning point in her career. The show was polarizing, with critics debating whether her approach was empathetic or voyeuristic. Despite her growing fame, she struggled financially throughout her life, often selling prints for $100 or less.
Her legacy is complex, partly due to the tight control exerted by her estate, managed by her daughter, Doon Arbus. Since her suicide in 1971 at age 48, Arbus has been recognized as one of the most influential artists of the last century. Her work continues to resonate, notably serving as the visual inspiration for the twin sisters in Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film, The Shining. Today, her photographs are celebrated for their ability to reveal the pathos and conflicts of modern life with a critical, observant eye.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Diane Arbus
- Also: Art Institute of Chicago — A Family One Evening In A Nudist Camp, Pennsylvania · CC0 (data); description CC BY 4.0
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