Man Ray . Man Ray in his studio

Man

Ray

www.manraytrust.com/

Man Ray in his

studio

www.manraytrust.com/

Background Basics He was most prevalent in the art world during the

1920s, 1930s, and 1940s

Primarily participated in the movement of Dada and Surrealism

He spent most of his career in Paris until World War II when he returned to the U.S.A.

Best known as a photographer

Early Life

Was born Emanuel Rabinovitch 1890 in Philadelphia – grew up in New Jersey

Oldest child of a Jewish immigrant tailor

Was not a good student, decides not to go to college – instead chooses the Bohemian life

Life in New York

1910 begins working as a commercial artist

Meets Marcel Duchamp – one of his greatest influences

1912 adopts name Man Ray (he refuses to acknowledge that he ever had another name than Man Ray)

Helps Duchamp bring Dada movement to America

“Dada cannot live in New York. All New York is dada, and will not tolerate a rival.

DadaismWas, officially, not a movement, its artists not artists and its art not art

Dada’s only rules were that you must not follow any known rules

Marcel Duchamp

Fountain

1917

Man RayDust Breeding (Elevage de poussiere), 192024 x 30.5 cm, Black and white photographTraces and Time

Paris

Moves to Paris after separating from his wife

Through Duchamp, he meets many artists including Kiki who becomes his model, muse, and lover for six years

Took many photos of Kiki. Often used the outline of her body to represent other objects

In Paris He met many of his contemporaries who only

encouraged and celebrated his surrealist art.

He fell in love with Kiki who was his muse, lover, and model for most of the 1920s.

Man RayLe Violin d’Ingres

1924gelatin-silver print

Rayographs or Photograms Was interested in minimalism and abstraction

Experimental prints were called “rayographs”

These were made by placing 3-D obdjects on light sensitive photo paper and exposing it to light.

Champs Delicieux no. 5

Rayographs

Spiral Spring

Rayographs

Champs Delicieux no. 1

Man Ray

Anatomies1929gelatin-silver print22.6 x 17.2 cm

Man Ray

Fingers1930gelatin-silver print11 1/2 x 8 3/4 in.

Man Ray

Larmes (Tears)1932-33gelatin-silver print

Man Ray

Prayer1930gelatin-silver print

Man Ray

Minotaur1934gelatin-silver print

Man Ray

Yves Tanguy1936gelatin-silver print

Experiments with moving pictures, painting, sculpture and makes portraits with the surrealists

WWII forces him to leave the country – he moves to Hollywood

Hollywood Spends 10 years in Hollywood as a fashion

photographer

Continues use of minimalist techniques and interesting lighting

Helps revolutionize this industry

Later life

After the war moves back to Paris

Continues creating art in Paris until his death in 1976

1975

The Revolutionary Photographer

Most artists try to create paintings that looked like photographs, but Man Ray wanted his photographs to look like paintings.

He forever changed the world of fashion photography.

His photograph’s maintained his surrealist nature that his paintings portrayed.

His photographs showed minimalism, chance, and absurdity.

Works sited

""Art and Synesthesia: in search of the synesthetic experience" by Dr. Hugo Heyrman." Net Art - Dr. Hugo Heyrman ( ( (Motions of the Mind) ) ). Web. 31 Jan. 2010. <http://www.doctorhugo.org/synaesthesia/art/index.html>.

Baldwin, Neil. Man Ray, American artist. New York: Da Capo, 1991. Print. Gale, Matthew. Dada & Surrealism A&I (Art and Ideas). New York: Phaidon, 1997. Print.

"Man Ray | */*." */* ?-- General Special Interest. Web. 31 Jan. 2010. <http://www.fyms.de/man-ray/>. Man Ray Trust - Offical Site. Web. 31 Jan. 2010. <http://www.manraytrust.com/>.

"OnCulture.eu - Finland - Surrealism and Beyond." OnCulture.eu. Web. 31 Jan. 2010. <http://www.onculture.eu/story.aspx?s_id=1027&z_id=8>.

Sam, Hunter,. American art of the 20th century. New York: H. N. Abrams, 1972. Print.