Man Ray — The Surrealist Body | Kiki de Montparnasse T-Shirt
MAN RAY — THE SURREALIST BODY
Two photographs. One artist. Two extraordinary transformations of the human body.
This double-sided T-shirt from Reading Frames — Printed Editions brings together two works by Man Ray, one of the most inventive photographers of the twentieth century.
FRONT — SLEEPING WOMAN, 1929
A woman's face rests between her folded arms. Through solarization and the precise arrangement of the body, Man Ray transforms an intimate portrait into an almost abstract composition.
The photograph belongs to a period when experimental techniques were changing the boundaries between photography, painting, and surrealist art.
BACK — LE VIOLON D'INGRES, 1924
One of the most celebrated images in the history of photography.
The model is Kiki de Montparnasse — Alice Prin, singer, painter, performer, and a central figure in the artistic life of Paris during the 1920s.
Inspired by the paintings of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Man Ray transformed her back into the body of a violin, adding the instrument's characteristic sound holes through photographic manipulation.
The result is both playful and provocative: a human figure transformed into a musical instrument.
For this design, Kiki's silhouette has been isolated from the original photographic background, creating a new composition against the black fabric.
THE BODY AS AN IMAGE
Together, these two photographs explore the space between the human body and artistic invention.
Photography does not merely record what stands before the camera. In Man Ray's hands, it becomes a medium of transformation, ambiguity, and visual imagination.
ABOUT READING FRAMES
Reading Frames is an independent artistic project exploring archival photographs, visual history, and the ways images acquire new meanings across time.
Our Printed Editions bring carefully selected historical photographs into contemporary compositions.
PRODUCT DETAILS
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Black T-shirt
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Two photographic designs, front and back
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Produced individually on demand
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Printed and shipped by our production partner
Reading Frames — Printed Editions
Wear a photograph. Carry a story.
More details
- Solid colors are 100% ring-spun cotton
- Sport Grey is 90% ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
- Heather colors are 65% polyester, 35% cotton
- Lightweight fabric (4.2 oz)
- Relaxed fit
- Unisex sizing
EU GPSR Product Information:
- Manufacturer contact information
- Name: Reading Frames
- Email: reading-frames-shop@support.fourthwall.com
- Postal address: PO Box 5696 Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Additional information: This product is made for adults. Meets the flammability, lead, cadmium, bisphenols and phthalates level requirements. 2 year warranty in EEA and UK, established by Directive 1999/44/EC.
Quality Guarantee & Returns
- Quality is guaranteed. If there is a print error or visible quality issue, we'll replace or refund it.
- Because the products are made to order, we do not accept general returns or sizing-related returns.
Man Ray — The Surrealist Body | Kiki de Montparnasse T-Shirt Size Guide
| Size label | Length | Width | Sleeve length |
|---|---|---|---|
|
S
|
28
|
18
|
16.75
|
|
M
|
29
|
20
|
17.88
|
|
L
|
30
|
22
|
19.13
|
|
XL
|
31
|
24
|
20.38
|
|
2XL
|
32
|
26
|
21.63
|
|
3XL
|
33
|
28
|
22.75
|
