Laugh while you learn: The History of English in Ten Minutes

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Pioneering experiments: Man Ray's 'Rayographs'

Man Ray (American, 1890-1976) produced his first photograms—cameraless works made by placing objects and other materials on photosensitive paper—after he came to Paris in 1921.

Though he claimed that he discovered the technique through an accident in the darkroom, it seems likely that his exploration was prompted by fellow artist Tristan Tzara, who brought to Paris some of Christian Schad’s earlier experiments with the medium in Switzerland.

Man Ray dubbed the results of his efforts “Rayographs”—a play on his name, but also a twist on the roots of the word “photograph,” meaning “light-writing.” Tzara proclaimed them “pure Dada creations.”