The power of Man Ray: photographer, artist, visionary
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter
![Left: Involute, 1917. Right: La Volière [Aviary], 1919](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ESXNTF9K3ay4pQyjmXkPaD-415-80.jpg)
It seems unlikely that Michael Emmanuel Radnitzky – born in 1890 in Philadelphia, but a Parisian by inclination – would have achieved quite the same name recognition had he not adopted the tag Man Ray. He might, though, have still hobnobbed with both Duchamp and the surrealists, taken portraits of Europe's art elite and then Hollywood stars and, along the way, had a famous relationship with Lee Miller and helped establish photography as a legitimate and powerful artistic medium (even if he remained unconvinced of that). He was 20th century art's de facto official photographer – particularly of the creative swirl, nodes and networks of Paris between the wars – but as active participant rather than neutral outsider.
Ray had started out as painter and collaborated with Duchamp in New York before decamping to Paris in 1921. There, in a series of remarkable portraits and sort-of-still-lives, and using extreme crops, props, photomontage and experimental lighting and printing (particularly with his X-ray-like 'rayographs' of found objects), he took photography to new places. He shot Duchamp, Hemingway, Schoenberg, Joyce, Picasso, Peggy Guggenheim, Cocteau, Stravinsky, Matisse, Magritte, Miro, Dali, Schiaparelli, Coco Chanel, Virginia Wolf, Le Corbusier, Ava Gardner, Catherine Deneuve and – an iconic and enduring series and subset – the dazzling and thoroughly modern Ms Miller. He died in Paris in 1976, aged 86.
Incidentally, William Wegman, in tribute, named the first and most famous of his weimaraners Man Ray. Look out for much more on him in our October issue.
Born Michael Emmanuel Radnitzky in Philadelphia in 1890 (but a Parisian by inclination), it seems unlikely that he would have achieved quite the same name recognition had he not adopted the ubiquitous tag. Pictured: Involute, 1917. Photography: Antonio Reeve. Courtesy of National Galleries of Scotland
Man Ray hobnobbed with both Duchamp and the surrealists, took portraits of Europe's art elite and then Hollywood stars, and helped establish photography as a legitimate and powerful artistic medium (even if he remained unconvinced of that). Pictures: La Volière [Aviary], 1919. Photography: Antonio Reeve. Courtesy of National Galleries of Scotland
He was 20th century art's de facto official photographer…. Pictured: 'Man Ray/Lee Miller: partners in surrealism' exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum, MA. Photography: Kathy Tarantola for the Peabody Essex Museum
… but as active participant rather than neutral outsider. Pictured: 'Man Ray/Lee Miller: partners in surrealism' exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum, MA. Photography: Kathy Tarantola for the Peabody Essex Museum
Man Ray died in Paris in 1976, aged 86 – though his name lives on not only in his art, but as the moniker of William Wegman's first weimaraner. Pictured: Gold Lips, produced after 1933, on view at the 'Man Ray/Lee Miller: partners in surrealism' exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum, MA. Photography: Kathy Tarantola for the Peabody Essex Museum
-
Fforme is the fashion label uniting European refinement with American ease
Ahead of Fforme’s presentation at New York Fashion Week on 10 February, creative director Paul Helbers, previously of The Row, tells the story behind its less-is-more approach
By Tilly Macalister-Smith • Published
-
Sustainable architecture: innovative and inspiring building design
This is sustainable architecture at its best: from amazing abodes to centres of care and hard-working offices, these buildings not only look good but also do good
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Out of this world beauty: the rise of skincare for space travel
Space tourism has prompted the development of skincare for space, with brands such as 111Skin creating products that respond to the cosmetic damage caused by life at microgravity
By Mary Cleary • Published