Diane Arbus: Portrait of a Photographer Paperback – Illustrated, March 14, 2017

Perhaps everyone who has ever looked at Dianne Arbus's photos has wondered how she feels about her subjects; does she empathize with them or is she exploiting them? The woman who took the pictures is no less confounding, fascinating, and deeply touching.Lubow's extensive research and in-depth interviews with many people in Arbus's life, his insightful analysis of her work, his evenhanded history of her life, including its many contradictions, and his sensitive attempt to bring her into as coherent a whole as any complex human being can be made into, make this not just a masterful biography of Arbus but a notable exemplar of the biographical art itself.The biography tells us, of course, not just of one life, but many, including Dianne's husband, the photographer and actor, Allan Arbus. And it's an exploration of the time when photography grew beyond Steichen's galleries into a major force in the New York art world. It gives insight into a critical era in fashion photography and the influence of Arbus's good friend Richard Avedon. And it deals sensitively with her suicide, the heartbreaking finale to her life but not to her fame and influence.It helps too that Lubow is a gifted, lucid writer who manages to work so much of his extensive research into the book without ever wearying the reader.Another reviewer here laments that Lubow didn't obtain rights to Arbus's pictures, which we would of course all like to have in our hands as we read the book, but the rights are impossible to obtain. They are kept under extremely guarded control by Arbus's daughters. You can, however, read the biography with books published by the daughters and thus gain immediate and full advantage of Lubow's penetrating analysis.

As another reviewer wrote, this is the best biography I have ever read. This book is beautifully writtenabout a complicated person who is not easy to write about or to understand. The author usesintelligence, compassion and empathy to tell the story of Diane Arbus whose photographs wereboth brilliant and disturbing. This description mirrors how Diane Arbus negotiated her life - she wastortured with depression and seemingly tried with all her might to overcome it. Her mother wasclinically depressed and not present emotionally, and Diane wanted her to love her and see her.This was not to be, and I think this fact was at the core of so much of what transpired. The book isexcellent on every level, her photography is genius, and the rest is complicated. Brilliant wonderful book!!!

First, let's acknowledge that Arthur Lubow's writing is, at best, pedestrian. None the less, this biography of mid-20th century photography icon Diane Arbus is a must read page turner for any student of photography, or the arts in general. The possessor of a truly brilliant, wildly original mind, Arbus was wracked by insecurity, self doubts, and, most likely, by that psychiatric illness de jour, bipolar disorder. I have long been troubled by ethical issues related to the way she appears to have taken advantage of her vulnerable subjects, but after reading Lubow I think I understand the basis of those lapses, and see her work in a new light. In addition to being a biography of Arbus, this is a fascinating snap shot of mid century New York City and its world of photography and fashion.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author does a superb job of explaining the complicated and some would say tortured life of Diane Arbus in a readable and compelling fashion. Vivid portraits are created of many of her most well known photos and the reader comes away with a clear understanding of how she created the photos as well the subjects themselves. As interesting as Arbus' life was with her unusual values and pursuits, the author also brings us into the lifestyles of many of her friends, acquaintances and subjects while painting a picture of a time long gone in America as seen through the life of an incredibly interesting woman from a well off New York family growing up during the 1950's and 60's.

Recommend a great biography and I’ll read it. After checking out various reviews of Arthur Lubow’s Diane Arbus bio I ordered it and sat down to feast upon the photographer’s fascinating life and unique photographs. This book has it all: it’s insightful about her art, it’s beautifully written, and it's replete with the kind of detail that comes only when an author has fully grasped the complexities of his/her subject. Lubow’s descriptions of Arbus’s photographs are so good that I didn’t miss the inclusion of photographs. (Goggle them if you must.) This book is a page-turner.

Terrific portrait of the bourgeois art scene and culture from that era. I always was a fan of Diane Arbus so learning about her life and the factors that determined her work was interesting and fun. Good gossipy read.

Great biography of a very complicated person. And a wonderful story about the world of fashion and art photography. Also a portrait of New York City as well and the art world of the 50's through the 80's. Any professional in the field of psychology should read this and gain insight into the issues of being a freelancer and living from project to project. A good study of anxiety, depression and an artist who left a powerful legacy and a fascinating body of work that will be viewed for many years, if not forever.

Although this biography is ultimately heartbreaking, as a freelancer myself in the middle of the wild highs and lows of this life, I intimately found it comforting to read how Arbus was constantly torn between her art and the need to make money. None of us can escape that dichotomy or the tension between the feelings of nurturing our own creations and surviving. What a wild and fantastic woman constantly pushing the limits but also m paying the price for her daring at a time when men were allowed so much more freedom from judgment. Arbus was a writer in every sense of the word and this biography captures her poetic eye.

El libro llegó con un día de retraso, pero llegó y es lo que importa. La edición es muy sencilla, el papel delgado tipo periódico; presenta algunas fallas de imprenta sobretodo en las fotografías, se ven unas líneas blancas e inconsistencia en la imagen por falta de tinta, el texto se ve claro y no presenta problemas.

Anyone who is remotely interested in this fascinating photographer and her work, has to read this book. Expect to disappear down rabbit holes though as you read about the other artists in her world. Just brilliant!

The media could not be loaded. Excited to read the book, but this is worth the money.No sign of wear and tear, the edges are slightly bent though but it's okay.

I have read a few biographies and watch Fur, the adaption of her life on film (avoid, its terrible) and came across this book as a recommendation from someone at MoMa. I am so pleased I purchased it. Great writing, short chapters (love shorter chapters) and I had never come across most of the details previously. Won’t spoil it by telling you what but by the second chapter I was hooked.

Gostei muito, mas Gostaria de ter recebido em português. Ficará um pouco mais difícil pra entender, mas achei interessanteObrigada