[Marquis De] Sade

 Man Ray (American, 1890-1976).

1970. Colour lithograph, editioned XIII/XXX and signed in pencil in lower margin, 62.1 x 50cm. Framed.

Printed by Mourlot and published by Editore Toselli, Paris. Ref: Anselmino #8.

A slight return to the literary outlaw, Man Ray was more preoccupied by the Marquis de Sade than many of his fellow Surrealists, although he never took his interest as far as the obsessive Jean Benoît. His imaginary portraits were created after Sade scholar Maurice Heine complained that the only surviving picture of the Marquis was a drawing that could be of any other young aristocrat of the time.

Man Ray’s portraits ran through several variations, first as drawings, then as two paintings, finally as a bronze. These always seemed to me to be more representations of Sade’s character as it comes through his writing than portraits of the writer himself. Ref.johncoulthart.com

Price: $2,900