Man Ray
“An original is a creation motivated by desire. Any reproduction of an original motivated by necessity. It is marvelous that we are the only species that creates gratuitous forms. To create is divine, to reproduce is human.”
An American who spent most of his career in Paris, Man Ray was a significant contributor to the Dada and Surrealist movements. He produced major works in a variety of media but was best known for his pioneering photography and noted for his work with photograms, which he called "rayographs". Despite this, he considered himself first and foremost a painter.
Man Ray's work explored themes of femininity, sexuality, chance, and the boundary between dreams and reality. He frequently featured women in his portraits, highlighting specific parts of the female body and emphasizing their prominent role in his artwork. He pioneered numerous innovative techniques in painting, filmaking and photography. His legacy continues to influence artists working in these fields, cementing his position as a major figure in the history of 20th-century art.
