Diane Arbus

1923–1971 (age 48)

photographer

Biography

Diane Arbus was an American photographer renowned for her distinctive black and white portraits that captured the essence of her subjects with unflinching honesty. Her work explored themes of identity, difference, and the human condition, often focusing on individuals at the margins of society.

Working primarily in the 1960s, Arbus developed a unique visual language that challenged conventional notions of beauty and normalcy in photography. Her influential body of work continues to inspire photographers and artists worldwide, cementing her position as one of the most important photographers of the twentieth century.