Review of David Campany's Essay - Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp 'Dust Breeding"

David Campany begins his essay by discussing his first connection and personal opinions of the image “dust breeding” Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp 1920. He then moves on to discus the history and story behind the image. Including process and practice behind the making of the image, Including descriptions and first publications.

After his initial story telling of the image and its history Campany talks about its links with surrealism and how the image is the first surrealist photograph, then moves on to make comparisons to semiotics and discuses how this image is a sign. A sign of life and living, almost like an index of life being present, Comparison are made between this and a photograph also being an index of information.

Campany discuses the title of the image and how this is also an index of the image and how the title is a source to a vantage point, weather this vantage point be it true or false. He then discuses how titles that accompany images suggest a subject and how the subject is expected. The subject of this image is then discussed and dust is compared with passing time, and terrain. He makes comparisons by using film, quotes and other images depicting this.

Campany then discuses Dechamps previous work and publications of the image, and how his previous work is an integral part of his work “Dust Breeding”.  The links are then made with realism and how this is not initially visible and is overlooked, and how this images is a representation off life and time. Links are made between the image and modernism with it containing harsh textures. Various comparisons between all different aspects of art are made, and its process and how this image is an innovation before its time.

To finalize Campany summarizes that photography is an index to something and a trace, and how we use photography to document time, and modern times are making way to simplicity and hopefully images will be about to capture time and life just like “dust breeding” depicted.

 Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp, (1920), Dust Breeding [ONLINE]. Available at:http://selfinterestandsympathy.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/the-future-as-disruption/man-ray-dust-breeding-1920/ [Accessed 12 February 14].


David Campany (2005) Singular Images: Essay on Remarkable Photographs. New York: Aperture, :