Man Ray

Acquis de l'artiste par le propriétaire actuel

The canvas is not lined. There is no evidence of retouching under ultra-violet light. This work is in very good original condition.
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signed 'Man Ray and dated '47' (lower right), oil on canvas. Painted in 1947.

Dédié à Patti Birch, ce Double Portrait rend hommage à l'amitié qu'elle entretint des années durant avec l'artiste et sa femme Juliet. L'oeuvre se prête à des interprétations variées. Si le portrait de face est celui de Patti Birch, celui de l'ombre de profil serait celui de Juliet Browner que Man Ray épouse au cours de l'année qui précède l'exécution de l'oeuvre. La composition de ce portrait double n'est pas sans rappeler les expérimentations photographiques de Man Ray sur l'impression en négatif-positif, des expérimentations dont témoigne la célèbre Noire et Blanche où Kiki de Montparnasse pose avec un masque Africain.

This double portrait dedicated to Patti Birch pays hommage to the friendship she shared with the artist and his wife Juliet.  This work is open to various intepretations.  The portrait facing us is Patti Birch herself, and the figure in shadow seen in profile is probably Juliet whom Man Ray married during the year preceding the execution of this work.  The composition of this double portrait is reminiscent of Man Ray's photographic experiments with negative-positive prints, in particular the well-known Noire et Blanche which depicts Kiki with an African mask.