Georges Braque

1933

Georges Braque, 1933. Man Ray (American, 1890–1976). Gelatin silver print, solarized; image: 28.3 x 21.5 cm (11 1/8 x 8 7/16 in.); paper: 28.3 x 21.5 cm (11 1/8 x 8 7/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Diann G. Mann and Thomas A. Mann 2019.26 Inscribed on the back “Portrait of Braque special care,” this potentially unique print demonstrates extensive manipulation during development. The head is excerpted from a half-length portrait by Man Ray. The image has been solarized: fleetingly exposed to light during development, which causes a selective reversal of tonal values used here to surround the head with a dark halo. The warm-toned grid was also produced in the darkroom. Man Ray described the French Cubist painter Braque as “a very gentle and kind man, completely obsessed by his paintings.”