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 rich diversity of artworks ranging from modern abstract paintings and prints to traditional portraiture from around the world. We are the leading Canadian auction house showcasing international art from collections in Canada and an ever-increasing number of works of art from collections worldwide. The combination of our expertise and our global network ensures the highest standards of authentication and research. Our specialists, well-versed in a variety of media including rare and important paintings, drawings, sculptures, fine prints, and photographs offer themed auctions such as Modern, Post-War, and Contemporary, Editions, and Old Masters and 19th Century to cater to a variety of genres and tastes.
Meet the Specialist
Goulven Le Morvan
Director, Fine Art
Alicia Bojkov
Associate Specialist, International Art