Lot 113
- 113
Man Ray
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 EUR
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Description
- Man Ray
- Objet Mathématique, 1934-35
- Silver print. Titled Mathematical form in pencil by the artist with two stamps 'Man Ray - 8 rue du Val-de-Grace Paris 5e France Danton 92-25', with the copyright stamp ADAGP and a typewritten label on the reverse.
- photograph
- 29.7 by 23.4 cm, 11 5/8 by 9 ¼ in.
Othello (Mathematical object), 1934
Silver gelatin print
Subject to further study of condition
11 3/4h x 9w
Estimate: €15,000 - 20,000
Silver gelatin print
Subject to further study of condition
11 3/4h x 9w
Estimate: €15,000 - 20,000
Exhibited
Francfort & Bâle, 1979-80
Literature
Cahiers d’Art, vol. 7, no. 1-2, 1936, p. 11
Schwarz, 1977, p. 98
Man Ray, 2009, p. 345 (ce tirage)
Washington, D.C., 2015, p. 142 (publication à paraître)
Schwarz, 1977, p. 98
Man Ray, 2009, p. 345 (ce tirage)
Washington, D.C., 2015, p. 142 (publication à paraître)
Condition
This print is in very good general condition. The upper right corner with a light fold, with three tiny spots of retouching and a professionally restored tear of approx. 15 mm in the centre of the image.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
In the mid-1930s, Man Ray photographed dusty three-dimensional mathematical objects at the Institut Henri Poincaré in Paris. His compositions accentuated the objects’ fantastical or anthropomorphic characteristics and were immediately celebrated by the Surrealists, with 15 published, including the present photograph, in the special 1936 issue of Cahiers d’Art devoted to the object. In his article, “Crise de l’objet”, André Breton proposed poetic titles for each photograph and the present image became the Nietzsche-inspired “Ainsi parlait…” (“Thus spake…”). In late 1940s Hollywood, Man Ray transformed his photographs into paintings that were named after plays by Shakespeare (see lot 25), with the series receiving the general title Shakespearean Equations: the present photograph became Othello (fig. 1).