Man Ray (1890-1976) remains a legendary figure in the history of 20th century visual art, Born Emmanuel Rudnitsky (which he abbreviated as his career took off) in Philadelphia, Ray was one of the first modern graphic artists. Bursting with ideas, he restlessly moved between media, constantly experimenting with the technological and scientific processes of constructing the image. In Ray's compositions bodies and objects are made strange and unfamiliar -- erotic, playful and sometimes sinister. Ray was a charismatic figure with a knack for creating and energising artistic movements, influencing and befriending many leading lights of the European Avant-Garde, from Dadaists to Surrealists and including Duchamp, Picasso, Satie, Cocteau and Breton. Ray's vast photographic oeuvre is often considered to be his most important and ground-breaking body of work. As well as consistently creating unusual and beautiful images, he also developed a number of new photographic techniques, most Famously photograms (or "Rayographs," as he preferred to call them), and the solarization process which, as he himself claimed, he "discovered" by accident with his muse, assistant and model Lee Miller. This volume brings together the finest photographs from collections and archives around the world, representing the singular vision of Man Ray at his most dynamic and beautiful.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning Stylized Images of a Most Innovative Artist,
By Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 100 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Man Ray (Photobook) (Hardcover)
Although many people think of Man Ray only as a photographer, his artistic work began with training in drawing. His approach to photography was always that of a painter, seeing photography as a way to create images with light as well as with the hand. He made two major innovations in technique, being the first to learn to expose images on photographic paper to capture their outline (rayographs) and to control the solarization process (where a partial reversal of values occurs in a photograph, accompanied by a characteristic edge) to create a consistent halo appearance. He also developed many ways to affect the surface appearance of the objects he photographed to make them more abstract. Deeply interested in Dadaism and Surrealism (although never formally joining either movement), Man Ray also captured witty titles and everyday objects in his photography to give additional depth to the message of his work. You will find many of his well-known portraits of famous artists in this volume. Before saying more about this outstanding volume, let me caution you (as the cover art surely must) that Man Ray often created images of nude women. If such things offend you, this volume will not be appropriate for you. The essays in this volume as reproduced in English, German, and French. I found them very helpful for providing technical background on the influences on and methods used in Man Ray's work. His approach was very Edison-like in its many unsuccessful experiments and accidents that led to important breakthroughs. A random mouse helped him learn how to do solarization. It is not surprising that Marcel Duchamp and he became instant friends. Their perspectives on art have many points in common. Born as Emmanuel Radnitzky in Philadelphia in 1890, he had moved to New York by age 7, and became exposed there to many important artistic influences. These included the Stieglitz gallery, the Armory Show in 1913, and leading artists in New York. He started as a photographer in 1914 just before meeting Marcel Duchamp. His primary years of productivity were spent in Paris, from which he was driven by the Nazi invasion in 1940. His return to the United States was less than a total joy, and he resided again in Paris after 1951. I believe that this volume is as much a delight for the mind as it is for the eye. Subtle differences in processing of similar images create enormously changed reactions in the viewer. You then move forward to study the reason for your changed perspective and find it in a small detail . . . like a slightly lifted eyebrow. Miror images in positive and negative reproduced side by side on facing pages create a similar reaction. Here are my favorites from these outstanding reproductions of Man Ray's best work: Integration of Shadows 1919 Untitled 1922 La violin d'Ingres 1924 Retour a la raison 1923 Meret Oppenheim 1932 "Beauty in ultra violet" c. 1931 Erotique voilee [Meret Oppenheim] 1933 Le Priere c. 1930 Anatomia 1929 Nusch and Sonia 1935 Untitled 1931 Untitled [hair] 1931 Lee Miller c. 1930 Objet mathematique 1934-36 Les Arums 1039 Untitled [Dancer] c. 1935 Enough Rope 1944 Rayograph 1925 Rayograph 1930 Champs delicieux 1922 Marcel Duchamp 1916 Constantin Brancusi 1933 Max Ernst c. 1934 Andre Breton c. 1930 Marcel Duchamp 1921 Joan Miro c. 1930 Pablo Picasso 1932 If you enjoy the the ultimate in photographic creativity, this is the book for you! After you finish this work, I suggest that you take these insights and begin to create some art of your own. Consider creating composite images by including your own collages with natural objects and photographing them, for example. You can even include your own poems as adjoining commentaries. Expand your mind and your grasp by taking advantage of all the resources at your disposal!
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The guy of art,
By A Customer
This review is from: Man Ray (Photobook) (Hardcover)
Have you ever seen a photo of eye with sting eyeblows? His photos are nothing but an art...Massimo! Man Ray is famous for his so-called Rayograph, which is to make pictures without using camera. This book contains many works of him and some photos are of Surrealists.
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