Diane Arbus (American, 1923–1971)

LOT ID: 65125

Mae West in a Chair at Home, Santa Monica, California, 1965

Silver Print, Gelatin silver print

20 х 16 in. (50.8 x 40.64 cm.)

Signed, on verso in ink by Doon Arbus, Executor of the Estate of Diane Arbus; printed by Neil Selkirk; editioned on verso, stamps of the Estate of Diane Arbus on verso.

Edition of 75

Lot description

Diane Arbus, Mae West in a Chair at Home, Santa Monica, California, 1965. Gelatin silver print, 20 x 16 inches (50.8 x 40.64 cm). Edition of 75. Printed later.

Diane Arbus (March 14, 1923 – July 26, 1971) was an American photographer, noted for her portraits of people on the fringes of society, such as transvestites, dwarfs, giants, prostitutes and ordinary working class citizens, in unconventional poses and settings.

Arbus' early work was created using 35mm cameras, but by the 1960's Arbus adopted the Rolleiflex medium format twin-lens reflex. This format provided a square aspect ratio, higher image resolution, and a waist-level viewfinder that allowed Arbus to connect with her subjects in ways that a standard eye-level viewfinder did not. Arbus also experimented with the use of flashes in daylight, allowing her to highlight and separate her subjects from the background.

MoMA curator John Szarkowski prepared to stage a retrospective in 1972, but the accompanying Diane Arbus catalog proposal was turned down by all major publishing houses. Aperture magazine's Michael E. Hoffman accepted the challenge, producing an influential photography book. The Aperture monograph has since been reprinted 12 times, selling more than 100,000 copies. The MoMA retrospective traveled throughout North America attracting more than 7 million viewers. Also in 1972, Arbus became the first American photographer to be represented at the Venice Biennale. Arbus' photograph Identical Twins is tenth on the list of most expensive photographs having sold in 2004 for $478,400.

In 2006, the film Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus was released, starring Nicole Kidman as Arbus. Though it is a highly fictionalized account of a period in her life, it used Patricia Bosworth's book Diane Arbus: A Biography as a source.

Literature and Catalogue Raisonné
Literature and Catalogue Raisonné
Publication:

Diane Arbus : the libraries / [installation photographs, Megan Lewis ; editor, Mary Bahr]. San Francisco : Fraenkel Gallery, c2004. Lee, Anthony W., 1960-. Diane Arbus : family albums / Anthony W. Lee and John Pultz. New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, c2003. Arbus, Diane, 1923-1971. Diane Arbus : revelations. New York : Random House, c2003. Arbus, Diane, 1923-1971. Diane Arbus. New York: Aperture Foundation 1997 Bosworth, Patricia. Diane Arbus : a biography / Patricia Bosworth. New York : Knopf, 1984. Arbus, Diane, 1923-1971. Diane Arbus, magazine work / with texts by Diane Arbus ; essay by Thomas W. Southall ; edited by Doon Arbus and Marvin Israel. Millerton, N.Y. : Aperture, c1984.
Condition Report
Condition Report
No condition report has been added for this lot. Please contact the specialist for further information.
History and Provenance
History and Provenance
Shipping Information
Shipping Information
Shipping Carrier:
UPS

Shipping Weight: 7 lbs

Framing: Yes (0 x 0 inches)

Item Location: New York, USA

Shipping Options:
Shipping weight is approximate, buyer pays shipping, handling, and insurance and all applicable taxes and duties. Shipping charges will be determined at the close of the auction. The work will be shipped upon receipt of payment in full.
Payment and Return Policies
Payment and Return Policies
Accepted:
Wire Transfer, Check

artnet Assurance Policy:
Every artnet Auctions seller has been approved by artnet after a thorough review. All of our sellers are required to accept the following artnet policy: A buyer may return an item purchased through artnet Online Auctions, if the item received is not as described in its listing, or is found to be not authentic.
Please see our full Return Policy for details.

Purchase Now

You are purchasing this lot for US$.*

Click Continue to place your order.

*The purchase now price excludes taxes (if applicable) and a 20% buyer's premium on all lots under US$250,000 and a 10% buyer's premium on all lots with a winning bid or purchase now price of US$250,000 or above.

Purchase Now

Congratulations, you have purchased a lot on artnet Auctions!

Proceed to Items Won >

SmartBid

CONFIRMATION

The artnet SmartBid Service will automatically bid on your behalf up to US$.

artnet SmartBid will immediately meet the reserve price if your maximum bid is over the reserve. If the lot does not have a reserve price, it will immediately bid to the next increment level.

artnet SmartBid will then raise your bid up to your maximum bid by increment. But it will never raise your bid above the reserve price unless other bidders placed competitive bids on the lot.

Click Bid Now to place your bid.

SmartBid

Enter your maximum bid below. It must be US$ or higher:

Maximum bid: US$

*The maximum bid excludes taxes (if applicable) and a 20% buyer's premium on all lots with a winning bid under US$250,000 and a 10% buyer's premium on all lots with a winning bid or purchase now price of US$250,000 or above.

How does bidding work?

The credit card on file will expire within the next 5 days.

You cannot place a bid until you update your billing information.

Update My Billing and Contact Information>

SmartBid

Thanks. Your bid has been placed on this lot.

Contact the Specialist

Christopher Sweet

(212) 497-9700 165

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Subject

Lot ID

65125

Artist

Diane Arbus

Title

Mae West in a Chair at Home, Santa Monica, California

Message

Contact the Specialist

Your message has been sent successfully. The artnet Auctions specialist for this lot will respond to you shortly.

Diane Arbus (American, 1923–1971) LOT ID: 65125 Mae West in a Chair at Home, Santa Monica, California, 1965

CONFIRMATION

Christopher Sweet

Sales Results for Comparable Works

Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus (American, 1923–1971)

LOT ID: 65125

Mae West in a Chair at Home, Santa Monica, California, 1965