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A Family On Their Lawn One Sunday in Westchester, New York

Black-and-white photo of a woman, eyes closed, and a man, hand over his face, reclining in long lawn chairs. Behind them, a child leans over a kiddie pool. The entire scene is on a wide, grassy lawn surrounded by thick trees.

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  • Black-and-white photo of a woman, eyes closed, and a man, hand over his face, reclining in long lawn chairs. Behind them, a child leans over a kiddie pool. The entire scene is on a wide, grassy lawn surrounded by thick trees.

Date:

1968

Artist:

Diane Arbus
American, 1923–1971

About this artwork

Throughout her career, photographer Diane Arbus demonstrated a gift for capturing the unusual and
eccentric in a compelling, thoughtful manner. This now–iconic photograph was originally included in a photo–essay, “Two American Families,” published in the London Sunday Times Magazine. In a letter to her editor, Arbus described encountering the woman pictured here in a bookstore: “I said I wanted to photograph her with husband and children so she suggested I wait till warm weather so I can do it around the pool! … They are a fascinating family. I think all families are creepy in a way.” Part of the caption for the image, based on Arbus’s corresponence, reads, “The parents seem to be dreaming the child and the child seems to be inventing them.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Photography and Media

Artist

Diane Arbus

Title

A Family On Their Lawn One Sunday in Westchester, New York

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1968

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Inscriptions

Signed by artist in ink, lower right

Dimensions

38.4 × 38.2 cm (15 1/8 × 15 1/16 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Richard Avedon

Reference Number

1986.2977

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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