Man Ray 1890-1976

matted, framed, 1935

The Man Ray Trust

Janet Lehr, Inc., East Hampton, New York

Acquired by Nancy Richardson from the above, 1990s

Other prints of this image:

Arturo Schwarz, Man Ray: The Rigour of Imagination (London, 1977), pl. 504

Arcadi Calzada i Salavedra, Pilar Parcerisas, Patrick de Haas, and Wendy Grossman, Man Ray: Llums i somnis (Man Ray: Lights and Dreams) / Collecció Goldberg / D'Afflitto (New York and Girona, Spain, 2006), p. 107

Photographies de Man Ray (Tokyo: The Bunkamura Museum of Art, 2002, in conjunction with the exhibition), p. 275 

This photograph is on double-weight paper with a glossy surface. It is essentially in excellent condition. When the print is examined in raking light, some of the photographer's original retouching can be seen. This is unobtrusive.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This photograph shows an exhibition of Man Ray's work at the offices of Cahiers d'Art, at 14 Rue du Dragon, Paris, in 1936.  Cahiers d'Art was a leading Surrealist art journal, edited by Christian Zervos, which published Man Ray's photographs and paintings throughout the 1930s, as well as his article, Sur le réalisme photographique (Volume X, no. 5-6, 1935, p. 120-21).  In that same issue, Man Ray's iconic painting, A l'Heure de l'Observatoire - Les Amoureaux, visible in the photograph offered here on the far wall, was also reproduced (ibid., p. 127).  Copies of Man Ray's book, Facile (Paris, 1935), are visible upon the round table on the right, while issues of Cahiers d'Art are visible upon the desk on right.  Cahiers d'Art was also distributor for the second edition of Man Ray's seminal book of photographs, Man Ray Photographs 1920 Paris 1934. 

Sotheby's wishes to thank Man Ray scholar Steven Manford for sharing information from his files regarding this exhibition.