September 24, 2016 – February 26, 2017
Diane Arbus (American, 1923–1971)
Patriotic Boy with Straw Hat, 1967, printed by Neil Selkirk, 1970
Gelatin silver print
Purchase with funds from a friend of the Museum, 74.81 D
© The Estate of Diane Arbus
Richard Avedon (American, 1923–2004)
Polly Mellen, Fashion Editor, New York City, 8/21/75, August 21st 1975
Gelatin silver print
Gift of the artist to mark the retirement of Gudmund Vigtel, 1991.59
© The Richard Avedon Foundation
Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, and Garry Winogrand were innovative photographers of the American social scene in the 1960s and ’70s. All three supported themselves through New York City’s burgeoning print industries in advertising, fashion, and journalism. The breadth of editorial assignments allowed them to plumb personal interests and build distinct, stylistically coherent bodies of work. Arbus focused her penetrating lens on those at the margins of society, Avedon directed his powerful vision to studio portraits of prominent individuals, and Winogrand canvassed the streets to capture candid expressions of anonymous passersby. Together, their work changed the course of modern photography, and through their high-profile shows at The Museum of Modern Art, each built a legacy that has been inspirational to generations of photographers.