Diane Arbus

The Human Pincushion, Ronald C. Harrison, N.J. 1962

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About this artwork

The same year that Arbus took this photograph at a New Jersey circus, she showed her portfolio to the photography curator John Szarkowski, who suggested that she look at the work of the German photographer August Sander in the 1920s and 1930s. Sander intended to document the whole of German society and his monumental series of more than 600 photographs included portraits of everyone from landowners and lawyers, to artists and tradesmen, to tramps and peasants. Arbus was fascinated by his work, particularly his commitment to "see things as they are and not as they should or could be". Like Arbus, he photographed people who were often ignored, like the poorest members of society or people working in circuses and freak shows, as here. Many writers believe the scale of Sander’s project was a major inspiration for Arbus, and added to her own commitment "to photograph everybody".

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Diane Arbus (1923 - 1971) American
  • title:
    The Human Pincushion, Ronald C. Harrison, N.J. 1962
  • date created:
    1962; printed after 1971
  • materials:
    Gelatin silver print on paper
  • measurements:
    24.70 x 16.30 cm (framed: 48.50 x 38.20 x 2.00 cm)
  • object type:
  • 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
  • accession number:
    AR00522
  • gallery:
This artwork is part of Artist Rooms
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Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus