MAN RAY (1890-1976)

“In whatever form it is finally presented, by a drawing, by a painting, by a photograph, or by the object itself in its original material and in its original dimensions, it is designed to amuse, bewilder, annoy or to inspire reflection, but not to arouse admiration for any technical excellence usually sought for in works of art.” - Man Ray

Striking and ethereal, this untitled solarized nude created by Man Ray in 1931 is a remarkable example of the new type of Surreal portraiture that the artist invented. The image beautifully exemplifies Man Ray’s recent innovation of solarizing photographic negatives and prints. With a strong command of the technique he discovered in 1929, Man Ray has employed a partial tonal reversal to this image a woman’s figure, disconnecting her from reality and evoking the subconscious.

The very print on offer here comes originally from the famous collection of Man Ray photographs gifted to The Museum of Modern Art, New York by James Thrall Soby in 1940. It was deaccessioned at auction in 2001. At the time of this writing, only two other prints of this image are known to exist, including one at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles.