Man Ray: Women

Man Ray: Women by Ray, Man. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9788889431320.

Man Ray found the surreal in the commonplace, particularly in the female form, and this has made his photography some of the worlds most accessible and recognizable: his ubiquitous La Violin dIngres creates a cello from a womans torso with the addition of curliqued vents inked on her sides; his classic image of shining cinematic tears glistening on a powdered cheek has been tucked into mirror frames all over the world. This collection of more than 130 pictures dated between 1920 and 1950 covers not only Rays work as one of the worlds leading avant-garde artists--he was a tireless experimenter who participated in the Cubist, Dadaist and Surrealist art movements--but also his commercial work. It includes fashion photography and advertising images; portraits of many artists, including Marcel Proust, Marcel Duchamp and Andre Breton; and a portfolio of 26 Femmes. Art dealer Giorgio Marconi, who met May Ray in 1966 in Milan, contributes an insightful interview.