Man Ray (August 27, 1890 – November 18, 1976) was an American artist who spent most of his career in Paris, France. He did not have any formal ties, but made a great contribution to both Dada and Surrealistic movements, thought his true nature probably belonged to the modernist movement. Man Ray created major works in a wide range of media and considered himself a painter above all. Moreover, he was a renowned fashion and portrait photographer. The appreciation for Man Ray’s works beyond his fashion and portrait photography was slow, especially in his native United States, as the decades passed by his reputation has grown significantly. In 1999 his name was among the other 25 stated as the most influential artists of the 20th century. His groundbreaking photography was cited there as well as “his explorations of film, painting, sculpture, collage, assemblage, and prototypes of what would eventually be called performance art and conceptual art.

One’s look is attracted by the bright image of a nude girl whose head is rested on the table. She is holding a dark mask next to her face reminding us of something exotic and unusual. Her face is a terrific sight as it strikes with the beauty and the purity of lines. The contrast of the photography is staggering. This is a perfect idea, and perfect light and perfect performance of the photographer’s work.