Self Portrait
Artist: Man Ray (American, 1890-1976)
Date: 1932
Dimensions:
11 5/8 x 8 in. (29.5 x 20.3 cm)
Medium: Vintage solarized gelatin-silver print
Classification: Photographs
Credit Line: Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number: 1987.207
Label Text:One of the few Americans associated with Dada and Surrealism, Man Ray was a key figure of these avant-garde artistic and literary movements that emphasized chance and the absurd and explored the unconscious mind. He was known for his striking, evocative black-and-white photographs, including many self-portraits. He considered this image one of his most significant.
In the 1930s, Man Ray did a series of solarized portraits of people—including artist Marcel Duchamp and writer and co-founder of the Surrealist movement André Breton. Solarization is a technique where the photographic paper is exposed to light while being developed in the dark room, creating an effect of overexposure and tone reversal. In this ethereal work, Man Ray depicts himself in profile and in action, adjusting his camera’s viewfinder, directed at the viewer.
In the 1930s, Man Ray did a series of solarized portraits of people—including artist Marcel Duchamp and writer and co-founder of the Surrealist movement André Breton. Solarization is a technique where the photographic paper is exposed to light while being developed in the dark room, creating an effect of overexposure and tone reversal. In this ethereal work, Man Ray depicts himself in profile and in action, adjusting his camera’s viewfinder, directed at the viewer.
Not on view
In Collection(s)