Imagine the bustling streets of Williamsburg as a nostalgic backdrop for a young artist eager to redefine his identity and leave an indelible impression on culture. Yet, for Man Ray, this part of Brooklyn represented his roots. Many may not realize that the modern-day Brooklyn looks vastly different from the Brooklyn of the early 1900s, where the legendary avant-garde artist spent his childhood. He was born Emmanuel Radnitzky, a child of immigrant garment workers. His artistic transformation commenced only after moving to Manhattan, thanks in part to his acquaintance with the influential gallerist Alfred Stieglitz. This relationship was pivotal in his journey from an aspiring painter to an innovative photographer.
The 1913 Armory Show featured a groundbreaking piece by Marcel Duchamp titled Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2. Inspired by this, Ray struck up a friendship with Duchamp, despite their language barriers. This connection introduced him to the liberating ideas of surrealism and Dadaism. As James Payne explains in a recent Great Art Explained video, the movement’s rejection of boundaries allowed Ray to break away from his old life and journey to Paris—embarking on a metamorphosis unshackled from his past. During an era when such a move was almost as radical as a Brooklyn-to-Manhattan transition, Paris became the canvas for his budding artistic revelations.
Shortly after setting foot in Montparnasse, Ray stumbled upon the photographic technique of cameraless photograms, which he aptly dubbed ‘Rayographs.’ This method, involving the placement of objects on light-sensitive paper and exposing them to light, yielded images hailed as quintessential Dada creations. These works significantly contributed to redefining photography, showcasing its potential for abstraction and intellectual depth. It was in this artistic hub that Ray began a personal and creative partnership with Alice Prin, widely recognized as Kiki de Montparnasse. Her iconic photograph, Le Violon d’Ingres, reached an unparalleled auction price, highlighting their dynamic synergy.
Although Le Violon d’Ingres fetched an astonishing $12.4 million, its significance lies far beyond mere financial value. The photograph not only encapsulates Ray and Kiki’s shared journey but also showcases a pioneering approach to photography. By playfully superimposing violin-like ‘f-holes’ onto Kiki’s poised form, the image challenged conventional representation, melding the mundane with the human body in a way that defied the boundaries of the medium. A century later, its impact remains evident, sparking imaginations far beyond Williamsburg’s borders.
Related Content:
- Discover Man Ray and the revolutionary Cinéma Pur movement through four defining surrealist films from the 1920s.
- Explore evocative portraits of Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Marcel Duchamp, and other icons captured by Man Ray’s lens in the roaring twenties.
- Step back in time with home movies showcasing the lives of surrealist pioneers Man Ray and René Magritte.
- Witness the creation of a “Surrealist Chessboard,” adorned with portraits of figures like Dalí, Breton, Picasso, Magritte, Miró, and more (1934).
- Delve into the compelling story of Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye, offering insight into the life of “The Father of Modern Photography.”
Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His ventures include the Substack newsletter Books on Cities and the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall or on Facebook.
