Biography of Diane Arbus
Diane Nemerov, in her real name, was born in New York City on March 14, 1923. Her parents were wealthy storeowners. Her grandfather, Meyer Nemerov, had left Russia to avoid a arranged marriage, and had fled with his childhood sweetheart to America. His son, David Nemerov was a successful Jewish businessman in New York.
Begining of business
He had married Gertrude Russek whose parents owned Russek's Fur Store and he had made it into Russek's of Fifth Avenue, a department store selling furs and women's' clothes. Diane grew up in a rich and privileged environment in Central Park West, lacking nothing in terms of possessions. Her wealthy parents sent her to the best progressive schools in New York (among her classmates was photo-historian Naomi Rosenblum.)
(self portrait with infant)
Life as Arbus.
At the age of 14, Arbus met her future husband Allan Arbus, who she would marry in four years. Both Allan and Diane worked in the fashion industry as photographers. As a part of his military service, Allan Arbus studied photography at the New Jersey Signal Corps photo school. At night he would come home and tell Diane what he had learnt, and like many beginners in photography they set up a temporary darkroom in their bathroom. Their first daughter, Doon, was born in 1945 when Diane was 22; her second daughter, Amy some nine years later, when the marriage was already showing signs of breakdown.…
