Elsa Schiaparelli
1 portrait by Man Ray
© Man Ray Trust/ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2021
Elsa Schiaparelli
by Man Ray
gelatin silver print, circa 1930
11 1/4 in. x 7 1/2 in. (285 mm x 190 mm) image size
Purchased with support from Chuck Close in honour of Sandy Nairne, 2016
Primary Collection
NPG P2019
Artistback to top
- Man Ray (Emmanuel Radnitzky) (1890-1976), Photographer and artist. Artist or producer associated with 23 portraits, Sitter in 16 portraits.
This portraitback to top
Renowned for her form-fitting wrap around dresses, Schiaparelli appears wearing one of her own creations. During this period Man Ray was arguably at the height of his Surrealist powers. The negative of this photograph in the Centre Pompidou proves that this is a unique print. To make the gridded bars visible across the image, he exposed the picture multiple times under the enlarger, each time masking part of the image to vary the intensity of exposure.
Linked publicationsback to top
- 100 Photographs, 2018, p. 64 Read entry
The avant-garde fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973), shown here at around the time she opened her influential boutique in London in 1933, was one of Man Ray’s models and artistic collaborators. Renowned for her form-fitting, wrap-around dresses, she appears wearing one of her own creations. During this period, Man Ray (1890-1976) was arguably at the height of his Surrealist powers. To make the gridded bars visible across the image, he exposed the picture multiple times under the enlarger, each time masking part of the image to vary the intensity of exposure.
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Events of 1930back to top
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