Man Ray (1890-1976)
GRAMOPHONE ET MAIN EN BOIS, CA. 1930
3.2 x 4.1 in — 8.2 x 10.5 cm
January 30, 2025
Estimate $12,000-$18,000
Realised: $13,750
With a disembodied, animatronic hand spinning the “Record of the Week”, GRAMOPHONE ET MAIN EN BOIS, CA. 1930 is an enigmatic photograph that captures the surrealist humour central to Man Ray’s photography. The visually striking high-contrast photograph is aesthetically a happy medium between the artist’s rayographs and solarizations. A rare and dynamic still-life, this lot represents one of only three known extant prints of this photograph, with the others housed in the collection of the Centre Pompidou, Paris – all unsigned and unstamped.
We would like to thank Man Ray photography scholar, Steven Manford, for lending his expertise and Associate Curator of Photography at the Centre Pompidou, Damarice Amao, for their assistance in cataloguing this work.
International Art
Waddington’s International Art Department presents a diversity of artworks ranging from Old Masters to contemporary. As Canada’s leading auction house for international art, we offer works from prominent collections across Canada and abroad. Each item is rigorously researched in partnership with leading experts. With proficiency across diverse media, including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and photographs, we curate themed auctions including Modern, Post-War and Contemporary, Editions, and Old Masters and 19th Century art.
Meet the Specialist
Goulven Le Morvan
Director, Fine Art
Alicia Bojkov
Associate Specialist, International Art