Man Ray 1890-1976

by Man Ray (Photographer), Emmanuelle de L'Ecotais, Manfred Heiting (Editor)

This is a comprehensive overview of the life and work of the groundbreaking artist Man Ray (1890-1976) who broke down the boundaries between photography and graphic design with his innovative techniques.Man Ray is indisputably one of the most original artists of the 20th century. His revolutionary nude studies, fashion work, and portraits opened a new chapter in the history of photography. Born under the name of Emmanuel Radnitzky in Philadelphia, he began his artistic career in New York. In 1921 he moved to Paris, where he was enthusiastically welcomed into Dadaist and Surrealist circles. Man Ray experimented tirelessly with new photographic techniques, multiple exposure, rayography, and solarization being some of his most famous. Erotic, playful, and sometimes sinister, his compositions show unusual bodies and objects: strange, striking images that transform our perceptions of reality. This collection of famous, lesser known, and unknown works fully illustrates Man Ray's singular visionary power.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Biography

190 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Man Ray (born Emmanuel Radnitzky), was an American artist who spent most of his career in Paris, France. Perhaps best described simply as a modernist, he was a significant contributor to both the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal. Best known in the art world for his avant-garde photography, Man Ray produced major works in a variety of media and considered himself a painter above all. He was also a renowned fashion and portrait photographer.

While appreciation for Man Ray’s work beyond his fashion and portrait photography was slow in coming during his lifetime, especially in his native United States, his reputation has grown steadily in the decades since.

In 1999, ARTnews magazine named him one of the 25 most influential artists of the 20th century, citing his groundbreaking photography as well as "his explorations of film, painting, sculpture, collage, assemblage, and prototypes of what would eventually be called performance art and conceptual art" and saying "Man Ray offered artists in all media an example of a creative intelligence that, in its 'pursuit of pleasure and liberty,'" — Man Ray’s stated guiding principles — "unlocked every door it came to and walked freely where it would."

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to this important artist. Think that so much of what we have come to accept as modern art was really started by a small group of artists that did not let the opinion of critics influence their vision; Man Ray is one of the few artistes who always seem to be 'modern' to me even as the tastes change.

[Shayla Fish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taschen is my favorite art book publisher. They have a variety of art books and my favorites are their icon series-small books filled with compelling images.

I actually had a little obsession near the end of my high school years with collecting these art books, which inevitably led to my discovery of photographer Man Ray.

Discovering the name of the artist whose works you have been familiarized with in the past is an enchanting experience.

This book covers Man Ray's techniques to an extent where you can understand his work.

The book displays images of models, still life, as well as showcasing his famous solarization and photogram techniques. However, this book does not contain enough information for the reader to really understand the history of Man Ray, there is some text, yes, not enough to educate. This is more of an adult picture book for me-which I am totally fine with.

[Surat Sadsang]

good

[Kurage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well made book. Right amount of explanatory descriptions and photographs.

[João Moura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um resumo da arte de Man Ray, o maior artista fotógrafo do século XX, um verdadeiro poeta da fotografia, que com as suas técnicas inovadoras e simples títulos de obras criava fascinantes mundos imagéticos.

[Ashok Sirugudi]

beautiful