Self Portrait by May Ray Atlantic Little Brown, 1963. Buy: First Edition | Penguin Classic
“To create is divine, to reproduce is human” – Man Ray
Today is the birthday of the seminal photographer / artist Emmanuel Radnitszky who we all know and love as Man Ray. Though born in Philadelphia Man Ray spent most of his career in Paris. He was an integral part of both the Surrealist and DADA movements. In 1999, ARTnews magazine named Ray one of the 25 most influential artists of the 20th century.
Here is our 5 book book birthday salute to Man Ray.
Alphabet for Adults. Copley Galleries. Beverely Hills, 1948. One of 500 copies. Buy
A letter always suggests a word, and a word always suggests a book. There are words that are for every day use and there are words reserved for the more special occasions, for poetry. One may glean from the former those disinherited symbols which by an inadequate association can be divested of their prosaic meaning and finally projected into the domain of greater emotional exclamations. To make a new alphabet of the discarded props of a conversation can lead only to fresh discoveries in language. Concentration is the desired end, as in an anagram whose density is the measure of its destiny.
Bonsoir Man Ray by Pierre Bourgeade. Published by Pierre Belfond, Paris, 1972.
Deluxe edition limited to 150 copies. French texts by Pierre Bourgeade and Man Ray are illustrated with a loose full-page original gravure by Man Ray, numbered and signed by the artist in pencil. Buy
Portfolios. Electra Editrice, Milan, 1980. Text in Italian. Suite of twelve 8 x 10 inch héliogravures on specially made 12 x 15 inch glossy card, each with attached tissue-covering, Edition of 1,000. Buy
Man Ray 1890-1976. Published by Ludion Ronny Van de Velde and Harry N Abrams, (1995) Buy