MAN RAY. (1890-1976). Influential American Surrealist and Dadaist visual artist known for his paintings, portrait photographs and photograms. Unsigned Photograph. 1p. 8vo. (4.8”x8.5”). N.p., N.d. Man Ray’s famous 1946 black and white self-portrait wearing a beret. Man Ray’s studio stamp is on the verso.

During his life, Man Ray, kept his real name and origins shrouded in mystery. Born Emmanuel Radnitzky to Russian-Jewish immigrants, his nickname “Manny” eventually gave way to his nom d’art. Both parents worked in the garment industry and many objects of the tailoring trade, such as mannequins, irons and needles, are featured in his work. The early part of his career was spent in New York City, where he was influenced by the 1913 Armory Show and became involved with Dada. In 1921, he moved to Paris’ Montparnasse neighborhood where he collaborated with artists Marcel Duchamp, Francis Picabia, and Fernand Léger. Although he worked in a variety of media, he became a renowned portrait and fashion photographer, and among his subjects were James Joyce, Jean Cocteau, and Gertrude Stein.

Our photograph was sent to journalist Léo Sauvage (1913-1988), who, for 25 years, was the New York foreign correspondent for the Paris daily newspaper Le Figaro, for whom he reported on American news, political and cultural events under the byline “New York: Léo Sauvage.” He was also the author of nine books, the best-known of which are The Oswald Affair (1966), about the JFK assassination, and L’Affaire Lumière (1985), about Georges Méliès and the origins of cinema.

The photograph was cropped for publication and its verso has penciled printer’s notations and glue residue on it. Otherwise fine.