About this artwork
The year this photograph was taken, 1970, Arbus was busy: she was compiling her portfolio of images entitled 'The Box of Ten Photographs', was involved in an exhibition on news photography at the Museum of Modern Art with the influential photography curator, John Szarkowski, was receiving prestigious awards, and still continuing to pursue interesting commercial projects, such as an assignment from Esquire to photograph a carnival in Hagerstown, Maryland. In this powerful image intended for the story, a tattooed man stands like a fighter. His strong body fills the frame, covered intimidatingly both in tattoos and hair, but in contrast his pale eyes have an unexpectedly soulful expression. Arbus was at the height of her career, but sadly had a long history of depression and shortly after, on July 28, 1971, she took her life, aged only 48.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Diane Arbus (1923 - 1971) American
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title:Tattooed man at a carnival, Md. 1970
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date created:1970; printed after 1971
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materials:Gelatin silver print on paper
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measurements:36.80 x 37.10 cm (framed: 61.90 x 61.80 x 1.90 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:AR00557
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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...