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Salle a Manger

Photogravure
1931 (made)
Artist/Maker
Compagnie Parisienne De Distribution De L'Eléctricité (publishers)
Man Ray (maker)
Place of origin
France (made)

Black and white photogravure of a photogram image of an electric toaster.

Object details

Category
Photographs
Object type
Photogravure
TitleSalle a Manger (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Photogravure.
Brief description
Black and white photogravure, 'Salle a Manger' (image of an electric toaster) , from the 'Eléctricité' portfolio by Man Ray, published by Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution de l'Elétricité, Paris, 1931.
Physical description
Black and white photogravure of a photogram image of an electric toaster.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 260mm
  • Image width: 204mm
  • Support height: 14.75in
  • Support width: 10.875in
  • Mount height: 20in
  • Mount width: 24in
Copy number
155/500
Gallery label
(20/11/2012)
The Paris electricity company commisioned these images by Man Ray. At the time he was a successful fashion and portrait photographer, though he is better remembered for his Surrealist work. To explore the theme of electricity he captured subjects including neon lighting and domestic implements, as well as a torso crossed by ribbons representing currents of desire.
(11 03 2014)
Gallery 100, ‘History of photography’, 2012-2013, label texts :

Man Ray (1890 – 1976)
From the portfolio ‘Electricité’
1931
The Paris electricity company commissioned these
images by Man Ray. At the time he was a successful
fashion and portrait photographer. To explore the
theme of electricity he captured subjects including
neon lighting and domestic implements, as well
as a torso crossed by ribbons representing currents
of desire.

Photogravures
Purchased with the assistance of the Art Fund
and the Friends of the V&A
Museum nos. E.1646, 1648, 1651, 1653-2001
Cameraless Photography

Man Ray (1890–1976)
Lingerie; Salle à Manger; La Maison and Le Souffle from the portfolio Eléctricité
1931
Photogravures from photograms
26 x 20.4 cm each
Museums nos. E.1646, 1648, 1650, 1654-2001
Purchased with the generous support of the Friends of the V&A and Art Fund

Man Ray’s images from the Électricité portfolio are some of the best examples of the graphic and commercial use of the photogram, or what he called the ‘rayogram’ after his own name. Commissioned by a French energy company for its shareholders, the set of ten images showed the range of modern innovations that depended on electricity. Some incorporated camera-made with cameraless techniques. The four selected here – showing a hand with an iron, a toaster, a light shade and bulbs, and a fan – are purely cameraless.
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support and the Friends of the V&A
Production
From the 'Eléctricité' portfolio.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.1648-2001

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Record createdAugust 7, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O66884/salle-a-manger-photogravure-man-ray/
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