Photo: Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964, photographer / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Born on August 27, 1890, Man Ray was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Man Ray was credited as a film director, photographer and cinematographer. Death is recorded on November 18, 1976, at the age of 86. Schooling on record includes Boys and Girls High School. Credited works include Ingres's Violin and Gift.
My Take
Man Ray is one of those rare artists who genuinely refused to be pinned down, and I find that endlessly fascinating. Born Emmanuel Radnitzky in Philadelphia in 1890, he reinvented himself — name and all — and eventually made Paris his spiritual home, right in the thick of the Dada and Surrealist scenes. What kills me is how effortlessly he moved between painting, photography, sculpture, and film, never treating any medium as lesser than another. His rayographs alone — those cameraless photographic prints he pioneered — feel like they belong to some other century, not the 1920s. And that image of a woman's bare back as a violin? Pure, unforgettable genius. He died in 1976 at 86, having spent essentially his entire long life making art on his own terms. Honestly, I think he was cooler than most people give him credit for today.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Man Ray
- Name (Japanese)
- マン・レイ
- Reading
- まん・れい
- Born
- August 27, 1890 – November 18, 1976
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Tiger
- Origin
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Occupation
- film director / photographer / cinematographer / screenwriter / painter
2. Background
- High school
- Boys and Girls High School
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | Ingres's Violin |
| Notable work | Gift |
4. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.manraytrust.com/
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%20Ray
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9E%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%83%AC%E3%82%A4
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46139
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Man Ray born?
Born August 27, 1890.
When did Man Ray die?
Died November 18, 1976, aged 86.
Where was Man Ray from?
Man Ray was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
What did Man Ray do?
Man Ray worked as film director, photographer, cinematographer, screenwriter, painter.
What was Man Ray known for?
Notable works include Ingres's Violin, Gift.
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