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La Maison

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

In Paris in the early 1920s, the American artist Man Ray began working with the camera-less photogram process, which involves placing objects on photographic paper before exposing them to light. The Électricité portfolio is one of the best examples of the graphic and commercial use of this technique. Commissioned by a French energy company, it shows the range of modern innovations that depended on electricity.

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Object details

Category
Photographs
Object type
Photogravure
TitleLa Maison (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Photogravure
Photographic Paper
Photogravure
Brief description
Black and white photogravure by Man Ray, 'La Maison' (photogram image of a lamp shade and light bulbs), from the 'Eléctricité' portfolio, 1931, Photogravure from a photogram
Physical description
Black and white photogravure of a photogram image of a lamp shade and light bulbs
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
Photography Centre 2018-20:

Man Ray (1890–1976)
La Maison, from the portfolio Électricité
1931

In Paris in the early 1920s, the American artist Man Ray began working with the camera-less photogram process, which involves placing objects on photographic paper before exposing them to light. The Électricité portfolio is one of the best examples of the graphic and commercial use of this technique. Commissioned by a French energy company, it shows the range of modern innovations that depended on electricity.

Photogravure from a photogram
Purchased with support from Art Fund and V&A Members
Museum no. E.1650-2001
(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.
Subjects depicted
Electricity
Photogram
Summary
In Paris in the early 1920s, the American artist Man Ray began working with the camera-less photogram process, which involves placing objects on photographic paper before exposing them to light. The Électricité portfolio is one of the best examples of the graphic and commercial use of this technique. Commissioned by a French energy company, it shows the range of modern innovations that depended on electricity.
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.1650-2001

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Record createdAugust 7, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O66886/la-maison-photogravure-man-ray/
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