Man at a parade on Fifth Avenue, N.Y.C. 1969
About this artwork
Like the portraits of two young men at marches in support of the Vietnam War, Arbus again visits a public event – in this case a parade – but chooses to photograph a single person rather than document the crowds at the event. But if she hadn’t told us in the title that the man was at a parade event, we wouldn’t be able to tell – there are no signs of the festivities in this quiet image and, although Fifth Avenue is New York’s busiest street, the pavement behind him is empty of people. He holds his hat gravely against his chest, presumably as a sign of respect, but for what cause we cannot know, inviting the viewer to imagine the crowd that is passing behind Arbus’s back.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Diane Arbus (1923 - 1971) American
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title:Man at a parade on Fifth Avenue, N.Y.C. 1969
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date created:1969; printed after 1971
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materials:Gelatin silver print on paper
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measurements:37.00 x 36.70 cm (framed: 61.90 x 61.90 x 2.00 cm)
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object type:
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credit line:ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund, 2008
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accession number:AR00553
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gallery:
Diane Arbus
Diane Arbus
Diane Arbus is one of the most influential photographers of the twentieth century. Born in New York City, she was working as a fashion photographer before she began to pursue an artistic career. Arbus made portraits of people from across society, but is best known for her powerful images of people...