{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O66889"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O66889/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AL1202/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AL1202/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AL1202","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O66889","accessionNumber":"E.1653-2001","objectType":"Photogravure","titles":[{"title":"Eléctricité","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"The works in the Électricité portfolio were made by Man Ray and his collaborator, Lee Miller.  With experience as a model, it was previously thought to be Miller's torso in the iconic image, but contact sheets held in the Lee Miller Archives disprove this theory.   \r\n\r\nTogether, Miller and Man Ray experimented with photogram techniques and darkroom processes, and developed  ‘solarisation’, which renders dark as light and light as dark. These techniques are particularly notable in their collaboration Électricité, commissioned by the Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d’Électricité in 1931. While Miller’s contribution to Man Ray’s work is often overlooked, an annotation written on the reverse of her personal Électricité portfolio displays his formal gratitude.","physicalDescription":"Black and white photogravure; image of a female torso with photograms of ribbons representing electric current.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Man Ray","id":"A6171"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Miller, Lee","id":"A18139"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"x43821"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution de l'Eléctricité","id":"A6172"},"association":{"text":"publishers","id":"AAT25574"},"note":"Man Ray produced the book as a commission for La Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d'Électricité (CPDE), a private power company wishing to promote domestic consumption of electricity, at a time when most French homes used natural gas, wood, or coal for fuel."}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"","id":""}],"techniques":[{"text":"photogravure","id":"AAT53207"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Photogravure","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"}],"styles":[{"text":"Modern","id":"AAT121793"},{"text":"art photography","id":"AAT178594"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2006AL1202"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLF","id":"THES49656"},"free":"","case":"X","shelf":"970","box":"B"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photogravure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1931","earliest":"1931-01-01","latest":"1931-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with Art Fund support and the Friends of the V&A","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"32.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"sheet","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"sheet","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Electricite' (image of a woman's torso with photograms of ribbons representing electric current) from the 'Electricite' portfolio, published by the Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution de l'Electricite, Paris, 1931.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Dawn Ades, ed. <u>ceci est la couleur de mes rêves</u> Vancouver: Vancouver Art Gallery, 2011. ISBN: 9781895442878."}],"production":"The works in the Électricité portfolio were made by Man Ray and his collaborator, Lee Miller.  With experience as a model, it was previously thought to be Miller's torso in the iconic image, but contact sheets held in the Lee Miller Archives disprove this theory.   \r\n\r\nA model turned Surrealist artist, war correspondent and chef, Lee Miller was a true polymath. During her time living in Paris in the early 1930s, she apprenticed for the American artist and Surrealist, Man Ray. Together, they experimented with photogram techniques and darkroom processes, and developed  ‘solarisation’, which renders dark as light and light as dark. These techniques are particularly notable in their collaboration Électricité, commissioned by the Compagnie Parisienne de Distribution d’Électricité in 1931. While Miller’s contribution to Man Ray’s work is often overlooked, an annotation written on the reverse of her personal Électricité portfolio displays his formal gratitude.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>Gallery 100, 2016-17:</b>\n\nMan Ray (1890–1976)\r\nFrom the portfolio ‘Eléctricité’\r\n1931\n\r\nThe avant-garde photographer Man Ray devised a type of photogram he called the ‘Rayograph’. He used the technique to striking effect when commissioned by the Paris Electricity Company to create images promoting the uses of electricity. This sensual example features the torso of his partner, model and photographer Lee Miller, crossed by ribbons, perhaps to represent currents of desire.\n\r\nPhotogravure\r\nPurchased with the assistance of the Art Fund\r\nand the Friends of the V&amp;A\r\nMuseum no. E.1653-2001","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}},{"text":"The Paris electricity company commisioned these images by Man Ray. At the time he was a successful fashion and portrait photographer, though he is better remembered for his Surrealist work. To explore the theme of electricity  he captured subjects including  neon lighting and domestic implements, as well as a torso crossed by ribbons representing currents of desire. ","date":{"text":"20/11/2012","earliest":"2012-11-20","latest":"2012-11-20"}},{"text":"Gallery 100, ‘History of photography’, 2012-2013, label texts :\r\n\r\nMan Ray (1890 – 1976)\r\nFrom the portfolio ‘Electricité’\r\n1931\r\nThe Paris electricity company commissioned these\r\nimages by Man Ray. At the time he was a successful\r\nfashion and portrait photographer. To explore the\r\ntheme of electricity he captured subjects including\r\nneon lighting and domestic implements, as well\r\nas a torso crossed by ribbons representing currents\r\nof desire.\r\n\r\nPhotogravures\r\nPurchased with the assistance of the Art Fund\r\nand the Friends of the V&A\r\nMuseum nos. E.1646, 1648, 1651, 1653-2001\r\n","date":{"text":"11 03 2014","earliest":"2014-03-11","latest":"2014-03-11"}}],"partNumbers":["E.1653-2001"],"accessionNumberNum":"1653","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2001,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"155/500","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-19","recordCreationDate":"2002-08-07","availableToBook":false}}