Child with a toy hand grenade in Central Park, NYC

Artist Diane Arbus (American, 1923 - 1971)

Printer Neil Selkirk (American, born England, 1947)

Date1962; printed 1973

MediumGelatin silver print

DimensionsImage: 14 7/16 × 14 3/8 inches (36.63 × 36.53 cm)
Sheet: 19 15/16 × 15 15/16 inches (50.62 × 40.46 cm)

Credit LineGift of the Hall Family Foundation

Object number2017.24.1

SignedSigned by Doon Arbus, on sheet verso, upper right corner, on white label in blue pen.

InscribedOn sheet verso, upper right corner, on white label, in black type with blue pen: "a diane arbus photograph / title Child with a toy hand grenade in Central Park, n.y.c. / date 1962 / print by Neil Selkirk, 1973"

MarkingsOn sheet verso, top, stamped in black ink: "Not to be reproduced in any way without permission from Doon Arbus".

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DescriptionImage of thin young boy wearing canvas sneakers and a buttoned-up short-sleeved shirt tucked into shorts with buttoned suspenders - one of which hangs off his left shoulder. He looks directly into the camera with wide eyes as he holds a hand grenade by his side. Sunlight streams in through leaves on tree behind him and creates shadows on the path where he stands.Gallery Label

Gallery Label

Even though he holds a toy, the boy in Diane Arbus’s photograph looks as though he’s just pulled the pin on a real hand grenade. The year Arbus made this photograph she had traded her 35mm Nikon camera for a twin-lens Rolleiflex, which created her signature square-format images. Known for her ability to charm and disarm her subjects, Arbus was able to further connect with them using her new camera. Unlike the 35mm, which a photographer holds up to her face to use, a photographer can hold the Rolleiflex at waist level, allowing her to maintain eye contact.

Provenance

Purchased from Robert Klein Gallery, Boston, MA by private collectors, ca. 1985;
Purchased from them by The Hall Family Foundation, Kansas City, MO, 2017;
Their gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 2017.

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