How was this photograph born? Man Ray (1890-1976) portrayed his lover Kiki de Montparnasse in his Paris studio, unaware that he would be remembered for trying to provoke society with the naked body of a woman transformed into a string instrument, one of the first examples of the use of visual metaphor since until then photography was only used to show strict reality. The photo is dated 1924, when the First World War had already ended and the world had been transformed. Within this framework, the artists were looking for another way of looking at reality and their proof was this 10 by 15 centimeter photomontage.
The work is also a tribute to the brilliant painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and his nudes -especially The Bather-, as evidenced by the woman’s turban. Who is the model? Kiki was the muse of Montparnasse artists, from Man Ray to Ernest Hemingway, passing through the sculptors Pablo Gargallo or Alexander Calder. She was even the actress of choice for surreal films like ‘Le Ballet Mecanique’ (1924).
“Surrealism as an art movement has seeped into our consciousness, and no work has done so more than Man Ray’s 1924 Le Violon d’Ingres,” said Darius Himes, director of Christie’s International Photography Department.
“Long seen as an icon of 20th century art, this purely photographic work is second to none and, appearing on the market for the first time in its history, has now broken all records for any photographic piece at auction, vintage or as well as all of Man Ray’s auction records in any medium. And why not? Man Ray, and this piece in particular, sits comfortably within the pantheon of other giants of 20th century art.” .
The sale took place last weekend in New York City, as part of Christie’s Spring 2022 Marquee Week, a multi-day auction that dedicated its last day of sales to pieces of surrealist origin: the auction of this collection of objects was lively and energetic – reported the auction house in a statement – since it had the participation of buyers from 16 countries by phone, online and in the room.
Man Ray’s iconic masterpiece was the top lot in the sale and set a new record for a photograph, selling – to a buyer who bid by phone – for exactly $12,412,500. The snapshot far surpassed the previous record price for a photograph: Peter Lik’s controversial ‘Phantom’, which sold for $6.5 million in 2014.
“We have seen a vitality in the art market for a variety of categories this spring and, in particular, there has been a strong resurgence of interest in surrealism. This collection featured an absolutely unrivaled group within the category, containing objects from art that spans multiple media, including photography, painting, sculpture, jewelry and the ephemeral,” said Marc Porter, president of Christie’s Americas.
According to Allegra Bettini, director of sales and specialist in impressionist and modern art at Christie’s, “it is clear that, a century after its creation, surrealism is as coveted as ever.”
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
