Diane Arbus: Clutching Money

Posted by admin on Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Diane Arbus Money Quote saying to share images with the world of those most proud of their achievements would be a great thing. Diane Arbus said:
 

 

“It would be beautiful to photograph the winners of everything from Nobel to booby prize, clutching trophy, or money or certificate, solemn or smiling or tear stained or bloody, on the precarious pinnacle of the human landscape” — Diane Arbus

 

 

In this quote, Diane Arbus is expressing her interest in photographing people from all walks of life who have achieved some form of recognition or notoriety. She mentions wanting to capture images of those who have won prestigious awards like the Nobel Prize alongside more trivial “booby prizes”.

Arbus finds the idea beautiful of documenting winners in varied emotional states – whether solemn, smiling, crying or injured – as they stand at the “precarious pinnacle” of success in their field, momentarily on top of the world with their trophy, cash prize or certificate in hand.

The quote conveys Arbus’ fascination with documenting the full spectrum of human experience, and her view that moments of triumph can be just as emotionally raw and complex as other situations in life. She seems intrigued by the vulnerability even of victory and achievement.