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A Box of Ten Photographs

Photograph
1972-74 (printed), 1962 (printed), (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This photograph of a Christmas tree, shot with Arbus’ signature twin-lens reflex camera, presents an uneasy atmosphere at odds with the usual joyous and familial scenes often portrayed during the festive season. The heavily decorated tree sits uncomfortably on a bare carpet, surrounded by a mound of neatly arranged presents: a symbolism of growing mass consumerism in the 1960s. The location of the home in Levittown, USA, is also significant as the first truly mass-produced suburb, created by William Levitt the ‘father’ of modern suburbia and widely regarded as the archetype for postwar suburbs throughout the country.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleA Box of Ten Photographs (series title)
Materials and techniques
Photographic print on Agfa paper
Brief description
'Xmas tree in a living room, Levittown, NJ 1962', from the portfolio' A Box of Ten', by Diane Arbus.
Physical description
This photograph of a Christmas tree, shot with Arbus’ signature twin-lens reflex camera, presents an uneasy atmosphere at odds with the usual joyous and familial scenes often portrayed during the festive season. The heavily decorated tree sits uncomfortably on a bare carpet, surrounded by a mound of neatly arranged presents: a symbolism of growing mass consumerism in the 1960s. The location of the home in Levittown, USA, is also significant as the first truly mass-produced suburb, created by William Levitt the ‘father’ of modern suburbia and widely regarded as the archetype for postwar suburbs throughout the country.
Dimensions
  • Height: 39.5cm
  • Width: 29.5cm
Dimensions taken from departmental notes
Marks and inscriptions
18/50 (Marked with edition number)
Credit line
Acquired from The Photographers Gallery Limited, London in 1974.
Production
One of ‘A Box of Ten Photographs’ by Diane Arbus, 1970. It was published after the photographer’s death by her daughter Doon Arbus and Neil Selkirk, who printed for her during her lifetime. All the prints are marked on the reverse with three stamps, and with the edition number 18/50, the title and the signature of Doon Arbus in ink. All the photographs are square format, printed in black and white on Agfa paper. The titles given here are those printed in facsimile manuscript on the overlay sheet protecting each print in the portfolio. They are Diane Arbus’s own titles. [Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1974 ]
Place depicted
Associations
Bibliographic reference
Taken from Departmental Circulation Register 1974
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.309-1974

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
Record URL
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