Surreal artist Man Ray took a photo of a nude woman in 1924. It's titled "Le Violon d’Ingres", which is a black and white photo set to be auctioned off. The image is particularly notable because of how Man Ray manipulated the image in the darkroom and superimposed the violin markings upon the woman's back. It is expected to auction off for $5 million - $7 million, which will surpass the previous record (Andreas Gursky’s “Rhein II” sold for $4.3 million).
Darius Himes, the international head of photographs at Christie's, stated:
"The reach and influence of the image, at once romantic, mysterious, roguish, and playful, has captured the minds of all for nearly 100 years."
The photo was purchased by late Rosalind Gerson Jacobs, a former executive from Macy's, purchased the print in 1962. Her husband, Melvin Jacobs, and her estate is selling the iconic photograph.