She is interested in the theme of the winners of one day, eager to receive the limelight in events that ultimately help in no way to improve their mediocre life. She attends contests of all kinds: beauty, motherhood, spaghetti eating, freckles.
In 1963, the champion couple in the National Junior Interstate Dance tries a step in the ballroom for that photographer who will use their pride to show to the Americans the vanity of social rituals. They have not reached the adult height but are already integrated into an artificial society.
A 40 x 40 cm print made in 1963 was sold for $ 380K including premium by Sotheby's on December 11, 2014.
A first consecration comes in 1967 with the exhibition of her work entitled New Documents at the Museum of Modern Art. In gratitude for a service on that occasion, Diane inscribes a print of the Dance champions to a seller in a boutique of Madison Avenue that promotes the psychedelic fashion. This photo 25 x 24 cm is estimated $ 250K for sale by Sotheby's in New York on October 7, lot 165.
From 1966 Diane, increasingly critical of the behaviors labelled as normal, visits the human monsters and the mentally retarded to witness the consequences of their infirmity on their personality and lifestyle.
Diane Arbus documented winners of all sorts, including these 1963 ballroom dance champions: http://t.co/wFyBKoAPuT pic.twitter.com/1Cku2v5rtJ
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) September 17, 2015