Shadows Possibly 1926

Man Ray made this print, Shadows, on paper, and it’s a trip! It’s all about layering transparent colors to create new ones, a process of discovery right there on the page. The way these shapes overlap, it's like he's playing with a color wheel and simple forms, almost childlike, but with a sophisticated sense of design. The surface is flat, but the colors vibrate against each other, creating a sense of depth. Look at that black, almost like an absence, a shadow engulfing the other colors. It’s heavy, but the transparency keeps it airy, like a ghost. Reminds me a bit of some of Moholy-Nagy's experiments with light and form, or even Sonia Delaunay’s use of color. It shows how art is always about looking, responding, and then pushing things further. It’s a conversation, a dance of ideas. It's up to you to interpret what the dance moves mean.