Man Ray

Man Ray
Noire Et Blanche
Photograph, gelatin silver print
17.5 x 21cm
1926

Man Ray (August 27 1890 - November 18 1976) was an artist most famous for his surreal style of photography. 

Noire et Blanche was a photo of his muse that was meant to show the idealized beauty standards of the time. Her long oval face and pale white skin was very envied in the 20's, and the dark mask next to her was supposed to contrast and complement her beauty. 
It was originally printed in Paris Vogue magazine, accompanied with this text, "Face of a woman, calm transparent egg straining to shake off the thick head of hair through which she remains bound to primitive nature. It is through women that the evolution of species to a place of full mystery will be accomplished. Sometimes plaintive, she returns with a feeling of curiosity and dread to one of the stages through which she has passed, perhaps before becoming today the evolved white creature."

The muse's name was Kiki de Monparnasse who started modelling nude at age 14. She was Man Ray's favorite subject for many years and they had a long affair, which is unsettling, considering her age.