Man Ray

 January 30, 2023 

Man Ray 

By: Connor Albaugh

            The field of photography allows for so much diversity for artists as well as for the work they create. With diversity, there are differences and variety—two things that make photography as entertaining and exciting as a medium. Everyone has their own individual taste and not only does this maximize creativity, but encourages those in this field to try new things and branch out beyond their normal comfort zone. Practice makes perfect, and curiosity creates opportunities. A rather unique photographer, this person not only attracts his viewers visually, but produces very good pieces of work. He is known as Man Ray and it is important to review what he has been able to do in the field of photography. 

            Originally born as Emmanuel Radnitzky, “Man Ray was born in 1890 to a Russian-Jewish immigrant family in Philadelphia” (Article 2). He spent most of his childhood in Brooklyn, NY, in a Williamsburg neighborhood after his parents relocated to this location (Article 2). “His mom was a seamstress and his dad was a tailor” (Article 2). Emmanuel Radnitzky and Man Ray don’t seem to be the same name. The family name changed to “Ray” because of the “fear of anti-Semitism” at the time (Article 2). On behalf of Emmanuel, he had the nickname “Manny” (Article 2). This was later shortened to “Man” and his name became “Man Ray” (Article 2). 

            His passion for art began in high school. “Ray learned freehand drawing, drafting, and other basic techniques of architecture and engineering” (Article 2). He became fairly good at his craft and excelled immensely, as he “visited art museums and studied the works of various artists” (Article 2). In 1908, Man had graduated high school and his “self-motivation” to become a great artist is one if not the main reason for his overall success throughout his career (Article 2). He applied to “Ferrer School in 1912 where he would develop as a serious artist” (Article 2). Over a period of time, “he studied drawings with Robert Henri, frequented Alfred Steiglitz’s gallery 291, and met big names like Marcel Duchamp” (Article 1). Steiglitz was crucial during Man’s early development as an artist because he saw himself heavily influenced by his work, as Man ‘a snapped images that provided a straightforward look at a subject” similarity to the work of Steiglitz” (Article 1). 1915 was a very important year for Man, which is when he met “French artist Marcel Duchamp, as they both formed a group of Dada artists in New York City” (Article 1). This helped to solidify a style on behalf of Man Ray and his future as an artist which would focus on “Surrealism and Dada” (Article 2). Later, in “1921, Man had moved to Paris and became associated with the Parisian Dada and Surrealist circles of artists and writers” (Article 1). In this stage of his life, this is where he would accidentally discover “a new way to create interesting images by accident in his darkroom” (Article 1). They called these “Rayographs, which could be made by placing and manipulating objects of pieces on photosensitive paper” (Article 1). Having met highly influential artists and having the ability to develop techniques for photography, Man was more than capable of creating a memorable career in the field of arts. 

            Man Ray has quite the resume not only as an aspiring and highly talented young artist, but had the opportunity to meet very popular and influential artists during his time. His style incorporates multiple components, mainly the ideas of Dadaism and Surrealism. “Dadaism challenged the existing notions of art and literature and encouraged the idea of spontaneity” (Article 1). Surrealism focuses on the idea of the unconscious, dream-like elements, and the experience of humanity and maximizing this to a full effect. To put in in easier terms, Surrealism is to “ channel the unconscious as a means to unlock unlock the power of imagination” (Article 2). The photo at the top of this blog was fairly interesting and was made using a “Gelatin silver print” (Article 3). The photograph shows a woman looking up at something that appears to be at the top left hand side of the photo. You cannot see what she is looking at, but underneath her eyes and on the side of her nose she has clear balls the size of a small insect. Like his style, this photo definitely encourages the idea of unconscious through the implantation of imagination. The look of the woman is likely a reaction to something someone said and these clear balls are likely to resemble “tears”. My “unconscious thoughts” here automatically push me to analyze the details of this photo. The photo was likely taken as a close put to put emphasis on the facial expression of the woman in the photo. The clear balls could resemble tears or hidden emotion that the woman feels but hasn’t expressed since there are no “physical tears”. There are artificial and prop-like tears, but no natural tears. Overall, the composition is quite interesting. The lighting on the woman’s face is well done, which highlights each of the important elements on the woman’s face. The focus is very well executed, as the details of her eyelashes, skin texture, and different portions of her face can be seen well. There are no distracting elements in this photo which allows me to take in the details of the photo to their full entirety. The angle of the face creates tension and somewhat makes me uncomfortable because her looking at the top left part of the photograph is a diagonal instead of her eyes being diagonal while her face is placed in the center and stood up straight. The clear balls contain light within them which direct my focus to the eyes and where they are positioned and what they are looking at. My eyes are able to move from these small elements to others and I am able, as a viewer, to follow elements in order to to develop pertinent meaning in regards to the photo on hand. The shadows underneath the eye socket and within the eye wells help to put emphasis of where the eyes are glaring off to. Overall, I enjoyed this photo not because of its depth, bit because of how different it was from photos I normally like to look at and analyze. Not only was this photo confusing, but my ability to channel my inner imagination for some meaning with artificial elements like the clear balls resembling tears in a way was rather entertaining and captivating. Besides this idea, I really am not sure what these clear balls could be used for. I like how this picture is black and white and not in color because this is an example of a memory or past time where one may look “off to the side” as to recall something that has happened in the past. It also has the potential to create a mood of uncertainty or personal incompatibility because one doesn’t know what she is looking at and the viewer is merely at a cross road in terms of only being able to guess or assume what is occurring in the photograph. Photos like these really encourage us to stop and think intuitively about all of the elements and sometimes simple pictures like these generate deeper means than originally intended. 

            Man Ray was so incredibly talented and really brought a lot to the table as an artist during hid time. He had the opportunity to play “a major role in Dadaism and Surrealist movements in America as well as Europe” (Article 2). Marcel Duchamp played an incredibly important role in encouraging an Ray as an artist and eventually his very successful career. Not only did he photograph, but he “painted, sculpted, and took up many other forms of art” (Article 1). His works can be seen in museums and exhibits across the world, notably “in NY, London, Paris, and other cities. He passed away in 1976, as his dedication as an artist early in his life as well as his ability to impact different art movement will live with him and his legacy forever. 

 

Sources:

Article 1 - https://www.biography.com/artist/man-ray

Article 2 - https://www.theartstory.org/artist/ray-man/

Article 3 - https://ago.ca/exhibitions/practical-dreamer-photographs-man-ray