"I paint what cannot be photographed, that which
comes from the imagination or from dreams, or from an unconscious drive. I
photograph the things that I do not wish to paint, the things which already
have an existence."
Man Ray
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| Lee Miller - Possibly (not confirmed) by Man Ray 1925 |
One of the most famous photographs of the 20th
century is Man Ray’s Le Violon d'Ingres. It is a nude of his model friend (and
mistress) Kiki of Montparnasse. Few who see the photograph know that the
f-holes (that is what they are called) were painted on Kiki’s back after the
fact.
Fewer know that at the time there was a rivalry between
Kiki and Man Ray’s assistant (and photographer) Lee Miller. There must have
been some jealousy as Miller insisted that Man Ray take this early picture of
her while holding a cello. It is not known if the f-holes were painted later
on or on Miller’s back.
This image was found recently in the basement files of the
Museo de Artes Plásticas Eduardo Sívori. Only a few years ago a long (and
original) version of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis was located in Buenos Aires. With
Argentina being the bread basket of Europe after WWI and WWII lots of art
gravitated to that country. It was a rich country.
I wonder what early methods Man Ray may have used to get
colour in this photograph and I wonder why so little is known of the existence
of this picture.