The American artist Man Ray was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. He was a painter, sculptor, photographer, and filmmaker. His experiments with the photographic medium almost singlehandedly positioned photography as a major component of the avant-garde. Although Man Ray positioned himself outside the Dada and Surrealist movements, each circle embraced him as one of its own. This image, a solarized self-portrait from 1932, exemplifies the artist's comtributions to modern art. The work comes from a pivotal period in his career, epitomizes his approach to portraiture, and illustrates his experiments in the medium.

Source: News, January February March, 2009.