Man Ray, Le Violon d'Ingres Enamel Pin

One of the most famous examples of Surrealist photography, Man Ray’s Le Violon d’Ingres depicts muse Kiki de Montparnasse’s back with the f-holes of a violin on either side of her spine. The title stems from a French expression, meaning hobby, which was a reference to the painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres’s own hobby of playing the violin in his spare time. The photograph mirror’s this turn of phrase, as well as Ingres’s historic investment in the female form, yet Ray creates a comical twist to this tradition, marking Kiki’s body as an instrument to be played.

This soft enamel pin measures approximately 1.3" x 1.5" and includes a rubber clasp. Designed by Pin Museum.