Born Emmanuel Radnitzky, Man Ray was a famous American filmmaker, painter and photographer. His career is distinctive, above all, for the success he achieved in both the United States and Europe. First maturing at the center of American modernism in the 1910s, he made Paris his home in the 1920s and 1930s. In the 1940s, he crossed the Atlantic once again and spent periods in New York and Hollywood.
Ray’s art spanned painting, sculpture, film, prints and poetry, and in his long career, he worked in styles influenced by Cubism, Futurism, Dada and Surrealism. He also successfully navigated the worlds of commercial and fine art and came to be a sought-after fashion photographer. Ray is perhaps most remembered for his photographs of the inter-war years, in particular, the camera-less pictures he called "Rayographs," but he always regarded himself first and foremost as a painter. Although he matured as an abstract painter, Ray eventually disregarded the traditional superiority painting held over photography and happily moved between different forms. Dada and Surrealism were important in encouraging this attitude; they also persuaded him that the idea that motivates a work of art was more important than the work of art itself.
André Breton once described Ray as a pre-Surrealist, something which accurately describes his natural affinity for the style. Even before the movement had coalesced, in the mid-1920s, his work, influenced by Marcel Duchamp, had Surrealist undertones. He would continue to draw on the movement's ideas throughout his life. Ray's work has ultimately been very important in popularizing Surrealism.
Find original Man Ray art on 1stDibs.
Armchair mod. Le Témoindi Man Ray for Gavina, 1971
By Man Ray, Gavina
Located in Baranzate, IT
Polyurethane foam structure and skai upholstery. Rigid PVC supports. Prod. Simon Gavina, Italy, 1971 "The great eye, the witness, watches you persistently in the house, when your con...
Plastic, PVC
'Le Temoin' Stool by Man Ray for Gavina
By Gavina, Man Ray
Located in Little Burstead, Essex
Beautiful example in pristine condition, designed by Man Ray for Gavina's ultramobile exhibition.
Faux Leather, Acrylic, Foam, Plywood
$7,500
H 28.75 in W 48.04 in D 34.65 in
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” Armchair for B&B Italia, White, 1971
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Mario Bellini “Le Bambole” armchair for B&B Italia, steel, foam and faux-fur, Italy, 1971. The search for a new shape for upholstered furniture: all parts are shaped like a larg...
Faux Fur, Foam
$8,236
H 28.75 in W 30.71 in D 27.17 in
Italian mid-century Brown Armchairs Wassily by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, 1960s
By Marcel Breuer, Gavina
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern Brown leather armchairs Wassily by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, 1960s Pair of armchairs mod. Wassily or B3 in brown leather. The backrest, armrests and seat a...
Steel
$2,106
H 26.38 in W 35.44 in D 30.32 in
Bastiano leather armchair by Afra e Tobia Scarpa for Gavina 60s, 70s
By Gavina, Tobia Scarpa
Located in Padova, IT
When Tobia Scarpa first designed the Bastiano Sofa in 1962, he wanted to provide seating that was sophisticated and elegant, yet casual and comfortable. In keeping with the spirit th...
Beech, Leather
Bench Eye Le Temoin by Man Ray for Studio Simon, Italy, 1971
By Simon Gavina Editions, Man Ray
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Bench pouf stool or coffee low cocktail table Eye sculpture "Le Témoin" by Man Ray for Studio Simon ( Dino Gavina ). An edition from the 1990s.
Faux Leather, Resin, Plywood
$2,434
H 28.55 in W 30.71 in D 28.75 in
Italian Modern White Armchair Wassily B3 by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, 1960s
By Marcel Breuer, Gavina
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern White Armchair Wassily B3 by Marcel Breuer for Gavina, 1960s Iconic Armchair mod. Wassily, also known as the mod. B3, with a rectangular seat in white leather. The st...
Steel
$29,259 / set
H 34.65 in W 28.35 in D 32.29 in
2Oth Century, Ignazio Gardella Pair of Armchairs mod. Digamma for Gavina, 1950s
By Ignazio Gardella, Gavina
Located in Turin, Turin
Ignazio Gardella (1905-1999) was an Italian architect, engineer and designer. His long professional career produced an enormous number of projects and achievements. Among the first b...
Metal, Brass
$16,000 / set
H 26.78 in W 51.97 in D 36.23 in
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" Armchairs for Gavina, Black Leather, 1970, Set of 2
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Cini Boeri “Gradual System” armchairs for Gavina, black leather, Italy, 1970, set of 2. Designed in 1970 by Cini Boeri for Gavina, these armchairs belong to the iconic “Gradual Syst...
Leather
$3,400
H 31.5 in W 18.9 in D 22.85 in
Pair of Cesca Armchairs by Marcel Breuer For Gavina Knoll, Italy
By Gavina, Knoll, Marcel Breuer
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Marcel Breuer Cesca Armchairs made in Italy in the 1960s by Knoll Gavina.
Chrome
$30,429
H 33.47 in W 27.56 in D 33.47 in
Pair 1st Edition Ignazio Gardella Digamma Armchairs for Gavina Italy, 1960s
By Ignazio Gardella, Simon Gavina Editions, Gavina
Located in Catania, IT
An extremely rare first edition pair of original 1950's Digamma reclining chairs designed by Ignazio Gardella designed in 1957 and manufactured by Gavina, Bologna, Italy. Original ...
Brass, Steel
$36,000 / set
H 33.47 in W 28.15 in D 33.47 in
Adjustable "Digamma" Armchairs by Ignazio Gardella for Gavina, Italy 1960s
By Gavina, Ignazio Gardella
Located in Utrecht, NL
The postwar boom years of the 1950s through to the 1960s were one of the periods of greatest influence of Italian designers. Design in the 60s paved a way to a more aesthetical appro...
Metal
$24,000 / set
H 26.78 in W 51.97 in D 36.23 in
Cini Boeri "Gradual System" Armchairs for Gavina, Black Leather, 1970, Set of 3
By Gavina, Cini Boeri
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Cini Boeri “Gradual System” armchairs for Gavina, black leather, Italy, 1970, set of 3. Designed in 1970 by Cini Boeri for Gavina, these armchairs belong to the iconic “Gradual Syst...
Leather
Vintage Impressive Chair by Man Ray for Simon Ultramobile
By Man Ray
Located in Roma, IT
Le Temoin is a wonderful furniture piece realized by Man Ray for Simon Ultramobile. Armchair in perspex and vinyl upholstery. Le Temoin was designed by Ma...
Faux Leather