Man Ray - Man Ray - 1980s

This poster is an iconic piece in 20th-century art and photography history. It represents one of Man Ray's most famous images, entitled Le Violon d'Ingres (1924).

The poster promotes a retrospective exhibition of Man Ray held at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris from December 10, 1981 to April 12, 1982.

This is an original poster from the 1981 exhibition, not a modern reproduction.

The central image depicts the model Kiki de Montparnasse from behind, naked to the waist, with a turban on her head. On her back, Man Ray graphically added two "f" holes (the sound holes of a violin), transforming the female body into a musical instrument. It is a masterful example of Surrealism, playing on classical nudity and visual irony. The coloration of this particular print leans toward a teal/acidy green shade, typical of 1980s graphic design choices.

Le Violon d'Ingres is perhaps Man Ray's most famous photograph. The title is a French pun: the painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres was known for playing the violin in his spare time, making the "Violin of Ingres" a way of saying to indicate a hobby. Man Ray jokingly suggests that the woman is his hobby.

The typeface used (a rounded sans-serif font typical of the early 1980s) and the Centre Pompidou logo make it a highly sought-after period design object among museum poster collectors.

Size: 69x49 cm