"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
(Published in Man Ray Photographer: 1981)
Man Ray is commonly associated with rayographs, which are photographic images created by placing objects on photographic paper and exposing it to light. Raygraphs were originally called photograms, but he renamed them after himself.
This piece of art is one of Man Ray’s rayographs named “Kiss,” which he created in 1922 in Paris.
“Kiss,” to me, is an interesting rayograph because of the technique used to create them. Many rayographs are black and white because of the methods used to create them where the objects are placed directly on the paper, which creates a void where the paper is not exposed to light. “Kiss” contains multiple shades of gray, which creates a feeling that Man Ray used multiple layers to create this photo.
Man Ray’s family was in the textile/garment industry, which showed up throughout his artwork. Because his family’s occupation is evident in some of his other works, I speculate about its influence in “Kiss.” The layers of gray in this picture cause me to question whether or not Man Ray experiented with different types of fabrics. The figure on the left doesn't have hard, defined lines; instead, he/she is somewhat bushy like frayed edges of fabric. The fabric could be a loose knit fabric, which would allow some light through creating the grayscale figure. The split in the photo combined with the points each figure has suggests that these are not two individuals engaging in a kiss, rather fabric or some other material which Man Ray can manipulate to create his photo.
This piece of art is one of Man Ray’s rayographs named “Kiss,” which he created in 1922 in Paris.
“Kiss,” to me, is an interesting rayograph because of the technique used to create them. Many rayographs are black and white because of the methods used to create them where the objects are placed directly on the paper, which creates a void where the paper is not exposed to light. “Kiss” contains multiple shades of gray, which creates a feeling that Man Ray used multiple layers to create this photo.
Man Ray’s family was in the textile/garment industry, which showed up throughout his artwork. Because his family’s occupation is evident in some of his other works, I speculate about its influence in “Kiss.” The layers of gray in this picture cause me to question whether or not Man Ray experiented with different types of fabrics. The figure on the left doesn't have hard, defined lines; instead, he/she is somewhat bushy like frayed edges of fabric. The fabric could be a loose knit fabric, which would allow some light through creating the grayscale figure. The split in the photo combined with the points each figure has suggests that these are not two individuals engaging in a kiss, rather fabric or some other material which Man Ray can manipulate to create his photo.
This photograph qualifies as Dada or surrealism because it does against classic depictions of love. The hands on the figures' heads are interesting because of the way the light exposed them. Are there hands in the figures' heads or are the figures placing their hand on the other in a passionate embrace? The photo doesn't answer this question and because of that "Kiss" pushes the photo into the surreal.
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