The Meeting Possibly 1926

Man Ray made this print, "The Meeting", with color and collage and I wonder how many different versions he tried before settling on this one. I bet there were lots! I imagine him layering these shapes on top of each other, seeing how the colors shift and change with each new form, each new combination. I can almost see him shuffling around bits of paper like playing cards, searching for a winning hand. It’s a playful composition. The yellow feels sunny, while that orange zig zag down the center is really eye-catching. That simple gesture, a zig zag line, does so much work! It creates movement and tension. The contrast between the geometric shapes and the organic forms is so striking. It reminds me a little of Sonia Delaunay's colorful abstractions. There is a real conversation happening between these artists, across time and space. It’s like they're all in this big, messy studio together, experimenting and inspiring each other. The making and the seeing, it's all part of one big exchange.