Mike Disfarmer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mike Disfarmer (1884-1959) was a American photographer whose portraits of everyday people in rural Arkansas gave them a sense of dignity.

Born Mike Meyers, he changed his surname to "Disfarmer" to break with his family's agrarian roots, the first move in a maverick career that embraced both obscurity and a rigorous aesthetic.^{[citation needed]} Disfarmer maintained a portrait studio in his hometown of Heber Springs, Arkansas, and photographed members of the local community for small fees.^{[citation needed]} But his "penny portraits" were far more than mere keepsake photographs. Employing a stark realism and often lengthy, unnervingly mute sitting sessions, Disfamer produced a consistent stream of portraits that strip his subjects into an uncanny intimacy.^{[citation needed]} His photographs capture the essence of a particular community in a particular time with piercing solemnity and a touching simplicity. His reclusive lifestyle has left many details of his life obscure or uncertain.