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Man
Ray was born August 27, 1890 and Died November
18, 1976. He was a pioneering painter and photographer
in the Dada, surrealist, and abstract art movements
of the 1920s and 1930s. He founded the New York
City Dada movement with his friends Marcel Duchamp
and Francis Picabia and then moved to Paris
in 1921, where he became a portrait photographer
to the intellectual avant-garde. Although he
was familiar with the work of Alfred Stieglitz
when he was a struggling young artist in New
York, Man Ray did not take up photography until
he reached Paris in the early 20's; and he did
so, initially out of need rather than desire.
Unable to sell his paintings, he turned to fashion
photography and protraiture. He was extrordinarily
successful in both areas. By 1921, Man Ray's
work was causing something of a sensation due
to his use of natural light, sharp clear contrast
and informal poses. His work seemed extreme
or avant-guarde at a time when Pictorialism
was still the predominant style of photography
in Europe.
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