Paul Levitt and Man Ray - September 2023

A Memoir of Man Ray Now at The Met 

Are you a person who loves a good story about a plucky art student who bolsters up his confidence to call a famous artist in a foreign city? Then you will love my friend Paul Levitt's book, Gathered Reminders: A Visit with Man Ray. It's now available at The Metropolitan Museum of Art book store.

In 1972, when Paul was a student at Tyler School of Art in Rome, he took a trip to Paris and met Man Ray, the American Surrealist, Dadaist artist and photographer. Paul had learned of Man Ray in college and admired his work. 

By luck, Paul got Man Ray's phone number and called him when he got to Paris. Man Ray invited him to visit. Paul's memoir tells the story of their meeting and contains the photographs that Paul took of him.

The cover of Paul's book shows a postcard  from Man Ray.

 It depicts Man Ray's art work, Le pain peint.

In 2015, my late husband, Richard, and I joined Paul at The Met to see the exhibit, China: Through the Looking Glass. On this occasion, Paul signed a copy of his book for us.

Paul with Alex at Shakespeare & Co. in Paris displaying a page from his book.

When Paul, a youthful art student, called Man Ray at his Paris studio, he was invited in and spent three hours with Man Ray and his wife, Juliet. Paul shot photos of Man Ray, who was wearing a beige pajama jacket, a black beret and large, black-rimmed eyeglasses. Paul remembered a quirky detail. The artist was wearing a shoelace tied in a bow as a necktie. 

Paul's photo of himself and Man Ray. They are obviously enjoying each other's company.

Paul and Richard at The Met in 2015.

I am sure you will enjoy Paul's intimate photos of Man Ray and the touching text which accompanies them. You can purchase "Gathered Reminders: A Visit with Man Ray" on eBay by searching for the book's title or by emailing Paul at paullevitt@hawaii.rr.com

À Bientôt!