Man Ray, al descubierto. Fotografías 1919-1948

The exhibition Man Ray al descubierto emphasises the search for the subversion of reality and recreation as the essence of photography. In it several layers of design are seen, ranging from the reproduction of reality to very surreal compositions, which can be grouped into seven themes: "The photographer’s job", "Fashion and Advertising", "Reporting", "Nature", "The Body "," The Portrait "," Compositions ","Photograms" and "Photography as the reproduction of non-Euclidean space." In the set of photographs now gathered together, a desire to transcend the natural material of the human body is made out, particularly the voluptuousness of the female figure, with the aim of presenting it as the surface of extrasensory experiences (Retour à la raison, 1923; Lee Miller, 1929-1930; series Untitled. Natasha, 1931). Conversely, aspects and resources of abstraction and geometry are used as the grammar with which to manifest and emphasise the irrational nature of the created images (series L'Aurore des objets, 1937).

With a limited range of resources (use of light with dramatic effects, postures and gestures referring to a traditional sculptural iconography), the theatrical nature of his compositions (without noticing, in this respect, hardly any difference between his specific work for fashion and the rest of his photographs) and the appeal of framing as a later trick what is revealed, are the two factors that give his work its character of autonomous visual unit and show his consideration of the photographic technique as a constructive tool for new images and meanings.