Photographs by Man Ray

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"Dada is artistic free-thinking." — Breton. Man Ray (1890–1976), an American photographer, painter, designer, sculptor, and filmmaker, arrived in Paris in 1921, where he was inspired by the irrationality of Dada and the surreal vision of Surrealism. He created striking images that transform our perceptions of reality. This large-format volume features a rich selection of his works from the 1920s and 30s, reproduced on coated stock to preserve their dramatic impact. Ray's innovative techniques included over and underexposure, shooting through fabrics, superimposing images, and focusing on minute details. He welcomed the artificiality and strangeness that resulted from breaking conventional presentation modes. The photographs are organized into five categories: general subjects (still lifes, landscapes, etc.), female figures (mainly nudes), women's faces (including Gertrude Stein), celebrity portraits (Ray, Dalí, Picasso, and others), and rayographs, which are "cameraless" compositions. The edition also includes texts by Eluard, Breton, and Tzara in French with English translations, along with an introduction by Ray. Today, Ray's photographs command high prices, making this affordable Dover edition an invaluable resource for photographers, artists, and students to explore these iconic masterpieces that challenge conventional aesthetics.