Man Ray (1890-1976) occupies a prominent place in the history of 20th century art. A versatile artist, best known as a photographer. In fact, he was one of the first to use photography, not as a simple means of reproduction, but as a truly creative medium, turning the technique into an art form. Some of his photographs, such as Le Violon d'Ingres (1924) and Noire et blanche (1926), have achieved iconic status.
Born in Philadelphia as, Emmanuel Radnitsky, known as Man Ray, he actively participated in the intellectual and artistic circles of New York. He discovered the European avant-gardes and befriended Marcel Duchamp, who opened the doors of Dadaism to him and welcomed him to Paris in July 1921.
At the heart of Parisian artistic life, he participated in the innovative experiments of the Dadaists and Surrealists, met with painters, poets and intellectuals and became famous for his portraits. He developed a career as a fashion photographer, notably for designers Paul Poiret and Elsa Schiaparelli. A tireless experimenter, he rediscovered the technique of "photograms" (abstract silhouettes of objects), which Tristan Tzara called "rayographs", and in 1929, with his new partner Lee Miller, he developed the "solarization technique".
In 1940, after the fall of France, Man Ray returned to the United States and met Juliet Browner, who became his wife and muse. He returned to Paris again in 1951 and lived there until his death in 1976.
Man Ray is known for having revolutionized the art of photography, but he was also a painter, draftsman, collector of objects, sculptor, writer and filmmaker. It is this artist who is seen here through a true panorama of works, and an unfolding of Man Ray's creative process and the importance of his art.
Dimensions: 24.5 x 30 cm
Pages: 232
Language: English
Authors: Robert Rocca, Pierre-Yves Butzbach (ed.)
Publisher: Silvana Editoriale