home
Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-Garde
|
||
 |
Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-Garde
(1997) |
|
| As part of the PBS American Masters
series, Man Ray: Prophet of the Avant-Garde covers the life and artwork
of this innovative modern artist with both clips of interviews and
archival footage of the times he lived in. Born in Brooklyn as Emanuel
Radnitsky, he grew discouraged by the New York art world of the early
1900s, changed his name to Man Ray, and moved to Paris. He was embraced
by the Dadaists, many of whom later became Surrealists. Although painting
was his main love, he took up photography, making portraits of famous
people such as Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Henri Matisse. He
developed a new technique, the rayograph, in which he placed objects
directly onto paper and exposed them to light. He even made an avant-garde
film with this technique. Whether creating Dada sculptures, such as
his famous iron with a row of tacks enigmatically entitled Le Cadeau,
The Gift, innovative photographs, films, or sculptures, Man Ray always
managed to surprise. In order to earn a living, he turned fashion
photography into art. After living in California and New York during
World War II, he returned to live and work in Paris after the war.
Included in this program are wonderful shots of his Paris studio and
home. Just under an hour long, this program presents a good look at
a remarkable artist. The DVD format also includes an essay by Neil
Baldwin, his biographer and author of the script, which underlines
the influence of the women in his life. The crispness of the images
and the intelligent insights into the ideas of the avant-garde make
viewing a great pleasure.
|
||