Man Ray and his muses

Man Ray was pioneer of modern photography. His art is now among the most expensive from the 20th century. He was born on August 27, 1890 in the US and died in 1976, leaving behind an oeuvre which includes sculptures, paintings, films, and photos. "Glass Tears" shows the watery eyes of his beloved Kiki de Montparnasse, who often served as a model for Ray in the 1920s.

Man Ray's work "Le Violon d'Ingres" (1924) shows the back of Kiki de Montparnasse, which takes the shape of a violin. It's an allusion to the famous French painter Ingres, who enjoyed playing the instrument, but wasn't very good at it. In French, "Violon d'Ingres" therefore became an idiom in the 19th century for a "hobby." This is one of the most famous Surrealist photographs.

Man Ray would often photograph heads, which he'd highlight in his pictures by setting them in contrast with other objects of art, such as with this African mask in the work "Black and White" (1926). In 1998, this picture fetched a record sum of $550,000 at a Christie's auction.

Man Ray made this portrait of his student and lover Lee Miller, but wasn't satisfied with it and threw it away. She took it out of the garbage and edited the image to create this impressive work. Elizabeth "Lee" Miller later became an acclaimed war photographer. She documented World War II, from the Allied invasion of Germany to the liberation of the concentration camps.

Coco Chanel's "little black dress" is an absolute classic of fashion history. Man Ray photographed many famous artists and fashion designers for magazines such as "Vogue." Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel posed for him in 1935.

Man Ray often took pictures of himself. The most elaborate self-portrait he worked on, however, was his autobiography: He spent 10 years writing it. The result, "Self-Portrait," was published in 1965. This photo from 1963 was taken by Joseph McKeown. After Man Ray's death in 1976, thematic solo exhibitions would further celebrate his photogenic muses and lovers.