MIDTERM, 2010 SUBJECT; MAN RAY.

MAN RAY, AUG. 7,1890 - NOV. 18, 1976. BORN EMMANUEL RADNITZKY IN PHILADELPHIA, PA.

HE IS CONSIDERED A MODERNIST...CREDITED WITH CONTRIBUTING TO THE DADA AND SURREALIST MOVEMENT. HE WAS ALSO A FRIEND AND CONTEPORARY OF SALVADOR DALI. ALTHOUGH PRIMARILY A PAINTER BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, HE EXCELLED IN OTHER MEDIUMS AS WELL...INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHY. THE PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS AS AN ART FORM AND SCIENCE WAS IN IT'S INFINTILE STAGE AT THIS TIME.

THE PHOTOGRAPH I'VE CHOSEN IS ENTITLED 'VIOLIN D'INGRES'. THE TITLE COMES FROM THE FRENCH NEOCLASSICAL PAINTER JEAN AUGUSTE DOMINIQUE INGRES.

'VIOLIN D'INGRES' IS AN EXAMPLE OF JUXTAPOSE ELEMENTS COMMON IN RAYS' ARTWORK. IN ORDER TO GENERATE AN EXPANDED MEANING IN THE PHOTOGRAPH, SOUNDHOLES WERE PLACED ON THE MODEL'S LOWER TORSO. THESE TWO SMALL ELEMENTS ADD TO THE INTERPRETATION AND IMPACT OF THE PHOTOGRAPH. OBVIOUSLY INDICATING THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN A VIOLIN AND THE FEMALE FORM. TO ME, THE TUBAN AND EARRINGS ADD AN EXOTIC AND SOPHISTICATED QUALITY TO THE COMPOSITION. THE DRAPERY LENDS A FEELING OF MODESTY, INNOCENCE AND CLASSIC POSING. THE HIGHLIGHT COMING FROM THE UPPER LEFT EXEMPLIES DEPTH OF FIELD. THE POSITION OF THE MODEL'S FACE (SHOWING ONLY PARTIAL FEATURES) LEAVES HER IDENTITY VEILED IN MYSTERY. THIS PIECE IS WELL COMPOSED, SIMPLE, AND TO THE POINT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, OPENING OTHER AVENUES OF VISUAL INTERPRETATION.

THE MODEL IS ALICE PRIN (AKA KIKI MONTPARNASSE). MONTPARNASSE IS AN AREA OF PARIS' LEFT BANK. SHE WAS A FRIEND OF RAY. I WONDER WHAT SHE'S LOOKING AT?