Double Portrait of Valentine Hugo as Queen of Diamonds

Man Ray, artist

1890–1976

Double Portrait of Valentine Hugo as Queen of Diamonds, 1935

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: gelatin silver print

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 22.1 x 16 cm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 8 11/16 x 6 5/16 in
Frame Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 13 x 10 1/2 x 1 in
Weight (Weight): 3 lbs

Credit line: Museum purchase: National Endowment for the Arts, Mr. and Mrs. Dean Evans and Mr. and Mrs. Sam D. Evans

Accession number: 1974.0106

Not on display

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Label texts

Archive Label 2003:
Man Ray grew up in New York, appreciating fully the foment of new ideas springing up around the turn of the century. He was involved with all the avant-garde associations in the city, particularly after the 1913 Amory Show of European modern art. As soon as he was financially able in 1921, Man Ray moved to Paris, where he stayed for the next 20 years. He felt free to experiment with a variety of media, often transforming ordinary objects into mysterious images. Photography suited this creative process extremely well, and it is in this arena that Man Ray had the greatest impact.

Portrait photography provided Man Ray with a steady income from the French fashion world, until the onset of World War II. The artist exiled himself, fleeing Paris for Los Angeles, where he spent the remainder of the war years continuing to create his surprising images in paint and found objects. In 1951, Man Ray returned to Paris to end his American exile, and settled comfortably back into French art circles for the remainder of his life.
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