Nudes (Rayographyes) by Man Ray

1930 (printed in 1981)

Nudo (1930 - 1981) by Man RayLa Galleria Nazionale

Rayography is the name given by the Dadaist and Surrealist photographer and artist Man Ray to his stills. 

Nudes (Rayographyes) (1930 (printed in 1981)) by Man RayLa Galleria Nazionale

Man Ray was a director, painter, and photographer and is considered the greatest exponent of American Dada culture. In full harmony with Dada thought, Man Ray renounced traditional artistic techniques and used industrial processes and materials in an unconventional way.

Solarization is a development process in which the negative is exposed to obtain special lighting effects. The definition of rayogram that appears in the Surrealist dictionary of 1938, probably written by Man Ray himself, is interesting:

Nudo (1930 - 1981) by Man RayLa Galleria Nazionale

“Photography obtained by simple interposition of the object between the sensitive paper and the light source” goes on to say, “caught in the moments of visual detachment and during periods of emotional contact, these images are living organisms– oxidation of desires fixed by light and chemistry.”

In 1981 the Marconi Studio Galleria of Milan created an exhibition of Man Ray’s Femmes by reprinting the original negatives made available by Man Ray’s daughter, circulating 35 copies for the occasion. Nine of these belong to the collection of the Galleria Nazionale. 

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