MAN RAY | Le Bateau

Esther Robles Gallery, Los Angeles
Jacquelyn Littlefield, Los Angeles
A gift from the above

The work is in very good original condition. The board is sound. The surface is slightly dirty. There are some scattered nicks around the extreme perimeters of the board, inherent to the support. There are four pinholes on a vertical axis in the center of the composition and two pinholes in the round element toward the bottom of the composition, likely inherent to the artist's process. Under UV inspection, some original pigments fluoresce but no inpainting is apparent.
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 work is a variation on the 1917-18 painting Narcissus, inspired by Arthur Rimbaud's 1871 poem Le Bateau ivre. Written by Rimbaud at age sixteen, this revolutionary poem was included in an introductory letter to his future lover, the poet Paul Verlaine. Taken by Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Rimbaud's poem takes the point of view of a drunken, sinking ship.

This work is recorded in the archives of the Man Ray Expertise Committee and will be included in the Catalogue of the Paintings and selected Works on Paper of Man Ray being prepared by Andrew Strauss and Timothy Baum of the Man Ray Expertise Committee.