Diane Arbus - Child With Toy Hand Grenade

This is understandably one of Diane Arbus' most significant images. It captures the strangeness of people and the human form she was largely known for. Arbus aimed to express society and those she encountered on the street who maybe did not appeal to other photographers. Most people would consider her photography out of the ordinary due to the unusual nature of her subjects. Some may even hesitate to explore the work of Diane Arbus, but Lisette Model took an interest in Diane and gave her the confidence she needed to pursue her unusual portraits. The black and white aspect of her photographs draws attention to the subject of the image and makes them the main focus. This photograph in particular is of a young boy holding toy grenades somewhere outside. His facial expression and the hanging strap of his overalls add character to the picture. I particularly like that the boy is the main focus with little else in the background to distract from the subject in focus. Some might also infer that the grenades being held by a boy of such a young age could cause some reflection regarding war in our society. It affects people of all ages and Diane Arbus certainly captures that with this exceptional photograph.