Biography

 "It was his achievement to treat the camera as he treated the paint brush, as a mere instrument at the service of the mind." - Marcel Duchamp

Born Emmanuel Radnitzky, Man Ray’s artistic journey began in the early point of the Dada movement which emerged as a reaction to the emergence of popular culture and the First World War. Also a prominent figure of Surrealism, he was the only American to play a significant role in the development of these important Modernist movements. A visit to Alfred Stieglitz's gallery, 291 introduced him to a wide variety of European contemporary artists such as Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin, and Georges Braque. Like many other artists of his time, he was also greatly influenced by the avant-garde Armory show in...

Works
  • IMG_3029
    Man Ray
    Cadeau Modèle, Executed in 1960, this work is a unique variant based upon Cadeau of 1921
    Readymade iron
    11.7 x 17.2 x 8 cm
    4 9/16 x 6 12/16 x 3 2/16 in
  • Man Ray, Chess Piece Profiles (Series I), Circa 1942
    Man Ray
    Chess Piece Profiles (Series I), Circa 1942
    Pencil on paper
    29 x 40.5 cm
    11 6/16 x 15 15/16 in
    Framing Dimensions: 43.3 x 56.3 x 3 cm
  • Man Ray, Early Unrealized Chess Piece Profiles Rendering, Circa 1920
    Man Ray
    Early Unrealized Chess Piece Profiles Rendering, Circa 1920
    Graphite on two sheets of paper joined by cellophane tape
    20.2 x 47 cm
    7 15/16 x 18 8/16 in
    Frame Dimensions: 32.9 x 59.8 x 3 cm
  • Man Ray, Nude Descending a Staircase by Marcel Duchamp, ca.1920
    Man Ray
    Nude Descending a Staircase by Marcel Duchamp, ca.1920
    Gelatin silver print
    photographed in 1920, printed in 1930
    29.1 x 17.2 cm
    11 7/16 x 6 12/16 in
    framed: 52.6 x 42.4 x 3 cm
  • MR 1969 Wood Chess Set and Presentation Case
    Man Ray
    1969 Wood Chess Set and Presentation Case, 1969-71
    Thirty-two wooden chess pieces in a presentation box
    20.5 x 30.5 x 4 cm
    8 1/16 x 12 1/16 x 1 9/16 in
  • Ferrouge1
    Man Ray
    Le fer rouge / Hot Red iron (Objet de mon affection), 1966
    Iron with red patina
    16 x 8.5 x 10 cm
    6 4/16 x 3 5/16 x 3 14/16 in
  • Man Ray, Serious Man, 1965-1972
    Man Ray
    Serious Man, 1965-1972
    Ink collage and mixed media
    50.8 x 33 cm
    20 x 12 15/16 in
    Framed: 64.5 x 47 x 2.5 cm
  • Featherweight
    Man Ray
    Poids plume / Featherweight (Objet de mon affection) (M), 1960-1965
    3 feathers, painted lead sheet
    18 x 24.5 x 13 cm
    7 1/16 x 9 10/16 x 5 1/16 in
  • Man Ray, Chess Set Design with Shaded Profiles, 1946-59
    Man Ray
    Chess Set Design with Shaded Profiles, 1946-59
    Black & red ink and pencil on paper
    27.1 x 34.5 cm
    10 10/16 x 13 9/16 in
    Framing Dimensions: 4 x 47 x 3 cm
  • MR 1944-46 Square Dumbbells-1
    Man Ray
    Square Dumb Bells / Haltères (Objet de mon Affection) (M), 1944-1966
    Paire d'haltères en argent massif boîte de bois noir doublée de velours
    30 x 20.8 x 7.4 cm
    11 12/16 x 8 3/16 x 2 14/16 in
  • MR 1943-47 Chess Piece Profiles (3)
    Man Ray
    1943-47 Chess Piece Profiles, 1943-47
    Vintage gelatin silver print of a drawing
    25.8 x 20.2 cm
    10 2/16 x 7 15/16 in
    Framing Dimensions: 61 x 43 x 3 cm
  • Man Ray, Trompe l'œuf - Trompe l'œil, 1930-1963
    Man Ray
    Trompe l'œuf - Trompe l'œil, 1930-1963
    Bakelite, original photograph, wood, plexiglass
    One of the 13 'Objects de mon Affection', as illustrated in the eponymous 1968 catalog.
    Plexiglass:
    60 x 50 x 8 cm
    23 9/16 x 19 10/16 x 3 2/16 in
  • Man Ray, Two Ladies Playing With the 1926 Silver Chess Set and Original Wooden Chessmen.NY., 1926
    Man Ray
    Two Ladies Playing With the 1926 Silver Chess Set and Original Wooden Chessmen.NY., 1926
    gelatin silver print
    One of the five silver prints, three mounted
    17 x 22.7 cm
    6 11/16 x 8 14/16 in
    Framing Dimensions: 42.5 x 52.5 x 4 cm
  • Man Ray, Cadeau / Gift - Series II (M), 1921 - 70
    Man Ray
    Cadeau / Gift - Series II (M), 1921 - 70
    Iron and nails
    18.5 x 21 x 18.5 cm
    7 4/16 x 8 4/16 x 7 4/16 in
  • Man Ray, Puériculture II (Rêve, Janvier 1920) (Objet de mon Affection) (M), 1920/1964
    Man Ray
    Puériculture II (Rêve, Janvier 1920) (Objet de mon Affection) (M), 1920/1964
    Bronze polychrome
    29 cm
    11 6/16 in
    Diameter: 10.0 cm
  • Man Ray, Chess Set (Objet de mon affection), 1920-1962
    Man Ray
    Chess Set (Objet de mon affection), 1920-1962
    32 pieces: 16 in very dark bronze 16 in gilded bronze;
    board in rosewood and mahogany
    99.5 x 57 x 9.5 cm
    39 2/16 x 22 7/16 x 3 11/16 in
  • Man Ray, Chess Set (Objet de mon affection), 1920-1962
    Man Ray
    Chess Set (Objet de mon affection), 1920-1962
    32 pieces: 16 in very dark bronze 16 in gilded bronze;
    board in rosewood and mahogany
    99.5 x 57 x 9.5 cm
    39 2/16 x 22 7/16 x 3 11/16 in
  • Man Ray, New York 17 (Objet de mon affection), 1917-1966
    Man Ray
    New York 17 (Objet de mon affection), 1917-1966
    Silver
    45 x ø 23 cm
    17 11/16 x 9 1/16 in
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