In February of 1964, Diane Arbus traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana for Mardi Gras celebrations throughout the city. While the venue seemed rife with possibility for finding the subjects that Arbus gravitated towards, surprisingly the trip yielded just one photograph that Arbus would go on to print: a portrait of Judy Young that she titled Lady Bartender At Home With Souvenir Dog, New Orleans, LA, 1964.
The format of this print highlights a pivotal moment in Arbus’ career where she transitioned from a 35mm camera to a medium-format camera. While the size and hard edges are indicative of her earlier work, the square format is a hallmark of the style that she would become known for. Beginning in 1965, Arbus began printing her photographs with black borders and, later in the decade, soft edges, helping to further identify this print as being made before this era.
