READ THIS: Man Ray | Lee Miller Partners in Surrealism Phillip Prodger, with Lynda Roscoe Hartigan and Antony Penrose

We must admit, we did not know of Man Ray and Lee Miller prior to receiving this book, however, we are glad we know them now.  A winning team, they produced superb work with panache that is obviously timeless...and this book captures their best moments.  We find it interesting that Man Ray makes Lee Miller look sensual, vunerable and alluring (p. 34) while in contrast Lee Miller herself exhibits a much stronger self-portrayal: we are certain that in the contrast of the sexes that this is a common theme, and actually kind of irritating for many women who like to be portrayed as a role model with definition and determination.  As the book goes on, although Lee was originally the model we believe her photography supersedes the skill of Man Ray and her shadows and brilliance in black and white (p. 69) is impressive.  Tears on p. 111 is excellent.  Our favorite is p. 83's good and bad posture.  A book worth perusing, Man Ray and Lee Miller Partners in Surrealism is recommended by Whom You Know even if you are not typically into surrealism.

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Bringing together unique and rarely seen photographs, paintings, sculpture and drawings, this exquisite book tells the story of the tumultuous relationship between the artists Man Ray (1890–1976) and Lee Miller (1907–1977). From 1929 to 1932, the two lived together in Paris, first as teacher and student, and later as lovers. Historically, Miller has been described as Man Ray’s muse, but Partners in Surrealism reveals how their brief, mercurial love affair was a key source of mutual and sustained inspiration, resulting in some of the most powerful work of each artist’s career. Featuring a candid and poignant contribution from Antony Penrose, the son of Miller and the English painter Roland Penrose, on the relationship between Man Ray and his parents in later years, this is an extraordinary exploration of the love, lust and desire that drove the art of the Surrealists.

The first book to focus on the relationship between Man Ray and Lee Miller, a volatile love affair that helped shape the course of modern art
Presents rarely seen work by these two major Surrealists, as well as that of other renowned artists in their circle, such as Picasso, Roland Penrose, Dora Maar and Alexander Calder

Published in association with the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts