Rayographs are a type of photographic image created without a camera, a term coined by Man Ray and his contemporaries. These images are produced by placing objects directly onto light-sensitive photographic paper and exposing them to light, effectively a form of photogram.
Rayographs became a hallmark of the Surrealist movement, allowing artists to explore abstract shapes, shadows, and textures in a creative and experimental way. They demonstrate how light, object placement, and exposure can combine to produce striking, one-of-a-kind images that challenge traditional notions of photography.