Artist: Diane Arbus (American, 1923-1971). Title: "Man at a Parade on Fifth Avenue, New York". Medium: Original photogravure. Date: Composed 1969. Printed 1978. Dimensions: Overall size: 15 3/4 x 11 5/8 in. (400 x 295 mm). Image size: 9 15/16 x 10 in. (252 x 254 mm). Lot Note(s): Stamped with the photographer's name, verso. High-grade archival paper. Ample margins. Fine, quality printing. Very good to fine condition. Comment(s): This edition authorized and supervised by Doon Arbus. Diane Arbus here 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 (courtesy National Galleries of Scotland). Image copyright © 1972 The Estate of Diane Arbus, LLC. [27162-3-400] |