MAN RAY | Saint-Raphaël, France

title and numerical notations in pencil and with the photographer's 'Photograph By Man Ray' credit stamp (Manford M24) on the reverse, circa 1920s

Collection of the photographer By descent to Naomi Savage, the photographer's niece

This photograph, trimmed to the image and on a double-weight paper, is in generally very good condition. There are a few tiny deposits of indeterminate nature and some minor soiling. Upon close inspection, the following are visible: a 1/2-inch crease that appears to break the emulsion in the sky area; and silvering along the edges in the darkest areas. There is minor wear and chipping of the emulsion at the edges. The reverse is soiled. There are hinge remnants and abrasions to the upper paper-ply along the edges. The reverse is titled 'St. Raphael' in an unidentified hand in pencil. Other annotations in pencil near the lower left edge are erased. When examined under ultraviolet light, this print does not appear to fluoresce.
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.

In 1922, a year after his arrival in Paris, Man Ray discovered Saint-Raphaël, a small resort town on the Côte d'Azur, thanks to his friend Francis Picabia.  Man Ray often visited the seaside town and stayed at the Hôtel Continental, also frequented by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso and Paul Eluard.  In the present photograph, Man Ray depicts the harbour and grand basilica Notre-Dame de la Victoire built in 1887 in the historic center of Saint-Raphaël.  The blurred, out-of-focus perspective employed in this photograph was just one of the photomechanical techniques that Man Ray experimented with in both his photography and film during the 1920s.  For Man Ray’s 1928 short L'Étoile de mer, the characters are seen distorted through glass and refracted mirror.