Diane Arbus, renowned street photographer known for her focus on marginalized groups, was only 48 years old when she took her own life in 1971.
Arthur Lubow took it upon himself to go beyond where other biographers have gone while trying to summarize this young artist’s life. On June 7th, 2016, he published Diane Arbus: Portrait of a Photographer, which is now the #1 Best Seller in the “Photography History” category on Amazon. Lubow reveals aspects of Arbus’ life that many fans may not know otherwise, supported by serious research and fact-checking. One of these shocking revelations occurs as early as page 19, with Lubow claiming that Arbus and her brother, famed poet Howard Nemerov, had a sexual relationship from their adolescence that lasted until the year of her death.
At the same time, Lubow explores Arbus’ relationships with her subjects. Sometimes, this relationship was sexual and other times, she served as a confidante to them. Often photographing social pariahs such as dwarfs, giants, transgender people, circus performers, overweight nudists, and hermits, Arbus often captured her subjects looking at the camera head-on, to some viewers’ discomfort.
While also exploring the talented photographer’s work, Lubow skillfully explores the history of photography between stories and photos. Analyzing the equipment Arbus used as well as her creative influences, including Robert Frank and Richard Avedon, Lubow paints a clear picture of the context of Arbus’ work that is her life. This book, revealing the interesting background and career of Diane Arbus far beyond what was previously known, has made it to the top for more reasons than one. See for yourself why this biography has become one of the most popular photography books of the present time.
