Lot 4
  • 4

Man Ray

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 EUR
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Description

  • Man Ray
  • FLEURS, LÉGUMES, FRUITS ET COQUILLAGES (FLOWERS, VEGETABLES, FRUIT, SHELLS)
  • signé Man Ray (au milieu à droite); inscrit Man Ray 1245 Vine Street sur le châssis
  • huile sur toile
  • 61,3 x 76,4 cm
  • 24 1/8 x 30 in.

Provenance

Georgia et George Blaine, Hollywood (acquis de l'artiste à Hollywood dans les années 1940)

Condition

Please note that measurements in inches are incomplete in the printed catalogue and should read 24 1/8 x 30 in. The canvas is not lined. There is no evidence of retouching visible under UV light. This work is in very good original 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."

Catalogue Note

signed 'Man Ray' (on the right); signed 'Man Ray' and inscribed '1245 Vine Street' (on the stretcher), oil on canvas. Painted in Hollywood in the early 1940s.

Situé en face du studio de Vine Street, le marché de Hollywood est un marché de fruits et légumes ouvert nuit et jour. Ce lieu a sans doute inspiré à Man Ray cette lumineuse nature morte destinée à décorer son atelier et logement. Les coquillages ont probablement été ramassés par Man Ray sur les plages du Pacifique.

Man Ray peint ici des fruits mûrs desquels semblent jaillir de resplendissantes fleurs, une façon intrigante d'envisager la reproduction de la nature et probablement une allusion à sa relation amoureuse grandissante avec Juliet qu'il épouse en 1946. Après avoir traversé une intense période consacrée à la photographie de mode et au Surréalisme dans les années 30, Man Ray peint ici une nature morte classique, retournant à la peinture traditionnelle.

Shortly after Man Ray and Juliet settled into their new home and studio at 1245 Vine Street, Man Ray complained that the painting hanging in the lobby of the building was substandard so he was invited to replace it with one of his own. he took inspiration from the Hollywood Market, a 24-hour open-air fruit and vegetable market and painted a colourful still life for the lobby. The shells would have likely been collected by Man Ray on nearby Pacific beaches.

Man Ray reverts to nature in this composition by painting blossoming flowers growing out of ripe fruit, an intriguing way of looking at nature's ways to reproduce and likely a reference to his growing relationship with Juliet whom he would marry in 1946. Furthermore, Man Ray felt compelled to paint a somewhat classical still life, a return to traditional painting after an intense period of Surrealist and fashion photography in the 1930s.