Man Ray

solarized, signed and annotated 'Paris' in pencil on the image, affixed at the corners to a thin mount, the photographer's '31 bis, Rue Campagne Première' studio stamp (Manford M6) on the reverse, framed, 1934 (Baum, Man Ray's Paris Portraits, revised edition, pl. 49)

This photograph, on lightly textured matte-surface paper, is in generally excellent condition. In raking light, faint silvering is visible in the dark areas of the print. The photograph is rubbed at the corners. Scattered tiny deposits of expertly applied original retouching are visible overall. Near the lower edge of the image are two areas of slightly warmer tonality. The thin mount is soiled and age-appropriately darkened at its periphery on the front and reverse. There is light graphite-colored rubbing on the reverse.
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 the mid-1930s, when this portrait was made, the designer Elsa Schiaparelli was at the height of her fame.  In 1934, her picture had been featured on the cover of Time magazine.  In 1935, she moved her headquarters into an expansive 98 rooms on the Place Vendome.   Man Ray’s sensitively-rendered portrait of his friend, wearing one of her own understated hats, belies the couture powerhouse she had become. When this solarized study was published in Man Ray/Portraits in 1963, Man Ray’s simple caption read, ‘I succeeded in my best portrait of her when she herself had succeeded’ (Man Ray’s Celebrity Portraits, New York, 1995, pl. 23).