Man Ray

Landscape (Paysage Fauve) marks an important stage in Man Ray's rapid development as a leading modernist artist. The dark outlines and simplified forms reflect his decision to abandon the direct observation of nature in favor of a more spontaneous, imaginative rendition. He transforms the traditional landscape elements of land, horizon, and sky into a brilliant, jewel-like composition of curvilinear forms that bear little resemblance to an actual place but instead convey the exquisite landscape’s startling beauty.