Man Ray

Luciano Anselmino, Galleria Il Fauno, Turin (acquired directly from the artist)
Acquired from the above by the present owner circa 1974

Man Ray, Oggetti d’affezione, Milan, 1970, no. 93, illustration of another example
Jean-Hubert Martin, Rosalind Krauss & Brigitte Hermann, Man Ray: Objets de mon affection, Sculptures et Objets, Catalogue raisonné, Paris, 1983, no. 127, illustration of another example, p. 107

Painted bronze. There is some minor wear to the paint exposing the bronze predominately to the underside. There is some dust to the crevices and some naturally occuring casting flaws to one end of the baguette. Otherwise, this work is in very good condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Displaying his characteristic humour, Pain peint is typical of Man Ray's talent for taking a mundane everyday object and transforming it through both a visual alteration and the addition of an evocative title. In the present work, a French baguette was painted blue. The result was simply a "pain peint" (painted bread), a title which reminded Man Ray of children imitating a fire engine. Man Ray translated the title in English as Blue Bred – Favorite Food for Blue Birds.

"You see when I painted a local bread blue, the idea of a title came to me almost immediately and almost automatically: in French "pain peint" painted bread, because it sounds also like the kids running down the street after a fire engine and imitating the sound of the sirens: 'pain–pain–pain–pain–pain–pain', you know." (Man Ray, BBC televised interview, 1972)