Diane Arbus Analysis

Among her many notebooks and personal diaries, Diane Arbus wrote that, “The thing that’s important to know is that you never know. You’re always sort of feeling your way.” The breadth of Arbus’s work showcases this uncertainty through the viewfinder of a woman in New York’s twentieth-century bourgeoisie society, which Arbus herself rarely photographed. Instead, she focused on creating photographs which capture the essence of the human experience. Rather than document the lifestyle that her status might have afforded her, Arbus made art which reflected the vibrancy and individuality of the world around her. I was immediately drawn to Arbus as an artist after reading Aperture’s collection of her notes; her desire to understand the “folkloric” and psychological facets of contemporary society is one with which I deeply empathize. After becoming enamored with Arbus’s philosophy, appreciating her contributions to street and portrait photography was natural. Studying the various methods and styles through …show more content…
The connection that I feel to this specific shot is rooted in both its technical precision and interesting subject. Arbus composed this photograph so that her subject would be its only focus. Any background which exists is bare, or shrouded in the shadow. In juxtaposition to her earlier work, the grain in this photo is nearly impossible to detect. Small details such as scarring and stubble are present throughout the print. The contrast created by the darkened portion of the background serves to illuminate Arbus’s subject even further than her intense focusing is capable of doing. Additionally, the burned section causes the subject’s shoulder to disappear, orienting the print around the subject’s peculiarities. These details- the composition, sublime focusing, and tonal range- all aim at representing Arbus’s subject as a unique