Description:

Man Ray
n.p., ca. 1959
Man Ray Original Abstract Painting Gifted to Yousuf Karsh, Ex. Karsh Estate
Signed artwork

An original artwork by American artist Man Ray (1890-1976), "Untitled" (1959), retained in the personal collection of Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002). The matte paint on board, in thick impasto in some places, features abstract amorphous shapes in black, blue, yellow, and orange. Pencil-signed and dated by Ray as "Man Ray 59" at lower right. N.p. With age-related condition issues including craquelure, isolated paint flaking/chipping, and minor paint loss to mostly black areas, but easily restorable. The artwork has an actual size is 13" x 9.5." It is suspended in a floating mount and stored underneath tissue paper in a custom-fitted acid-free museum-quality archival box labeled in part on the front cover: "L-G 86.4.2025 Prints and Drawings." Bearing an official estate label of provenance on the interior of this box, easily removable if desired, and accompanied by an Estrellita Karsh Estate Certificate of Authenticity. The storage box measures 20.5" x 16.75" x 1.625" and comes with a wax paper and painter's tape packet containing approximately 27 paint flakes and chips, pencil-inscribed as: "Man Ray loose bits / disassociated / from object / (loose in former box)." Ex. Karsh Estate. This original artwork signed by Man Ray is more desirable than all others, because it was kept in the personal collection of Karsh and later by his wife.

***PLEASE NOTE: This item will require third-party shipping.***

A Man Ray-signed original artwork of the same medium, size, and subject sold at our February 18, 2026 sale for $11,250 including the buyer's premium. The work offered here appears to be a mirror image of the Man Ray work we sold in February.

Karsh photographed Man Ray in Paris, France, on March 29, 1965, showing the eccentric Ray dressed in thick, dark-rimmed glasses and a black beret holding a two-toned face mask in one hand. The photo shoot is listed on Karsh.org (Sitting #12510). Was this a thank-you gift?

Karsh and Ray were both photographers. Man Ray had become one of the leading artists of the Dada and Surrealist artistic movements in Europe. Although Ray primarily considered himself a painter - as evidenced by this artwork, for instance - he also pioneered a type of photography known as the photogram, or "Rayograph." Ray also experimented with light painting and directed avant-garde films in the 1920s.

A prolific portrait photographer, Karsh took an estimated 250,000 negatives of subjects over the course of 15,000 sittings over seven decades. Karsh photographed actors, writers, composers, military leaders, politicians, and artists, like Ray.

Karsh Estate Provenance: Held by the Estate of Yousuf & Estrellita Karsh; after Yousuf's death in 2002 passing to Estrellita Karsh; after Estrellita's death in March 2025 passing to Katherine Getchell, Co-Executor, Estrellita Karsh Estate and Personal Representative of Estrellita Karsh.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

  • Dimensions: archival box: 20.5" x 16.75" x 1.625"
  • Medium: Signed artwork

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

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Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

March 25, 2026 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000