MAN RAY | Alberto Giacometti, 1934

vintage solarized silver printon reverse, stamp "Photograph by Man Ray"  (M22 - Hollywood period 1940-1951) and annotated Original in pencil by the artist matted and framed    

Michael Senft, New York
Galerie Zur Stockeregg, Zurich

Philippe Sers, Man Ray – Photographs, Thames and Hudson Ltd, London, 1982, pl. 23 (variant);
Self Portrait – Man Ray, Bloomsbury, London, 1988, p. 203 (variant).
Zervos, 1932, p. 339 (variante)
Man Ray Portraits, 1963, n.p. (variante)
Tokyo, 1984, p. 58
Self Portrait, 1988, p. 203 (autre cadrage)
Turin, 1995, p. 138 (variante)
Centre Pompidou, 1996, p. 318 (variante)
Tokyo, 1996-97, p. 84 (variantes)
Milan, 1998, p. 110 (variante)

This print is in overall excellent condition. Double weight paper, trimmed to edges. A few foxing spots along edges, faint silvering near lower left edge and a very light fold along upper right extreme edge, all of which only visible under raking light and not disturbing the image. A stunning rich tones print.
"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."

This portrait of Alberto Giacometti was made by Man Ray in 1932. Man Ray solarized this print. That allowed him to highlight the outlines of the face on the background thanks to an inversion of tones.  This technique is said to have been discovered accidentally by the assistant and partner of Man Ray, Lee Miller. As they were printing in the lab, she felt a rat touching her feet. The frightened young lady screamed and put the light on. "The tanks were full of negatives that were under development. The blacks became whites and a line appeared on the outlines of the figures that seems to have a halo" 

Man Ray called this phenomena "solarization" and started to use it in his work to create unique prints. This technique contributed in producing a surreal effect, which translated a different vision of the reality and added a soul to the photograph. In fact the sculptor Giacometti is sacralized here by this aureole as a totem of Parisian artists.

© Man Ray 2015 Trust / Adagp, Paris 2018