This Grammy Award-winning album cover was co-designed by Peter Blake and his wife Jann Haworth, and photographed by Michael Cooper. The visual concept was devised by art director Robert Fraser and Paul McCartney.
One of the most iconic images of all time, it features a colourful collage of life-sized cardboard models of famous people serving as a backdrop to the band posing with instruments. The suits they are wearing were designed by the famous Mexican fashion designer to the stars, Manuel Cuevas.
The collage depicted more than 70 famous people, including writers, musicians, film stars, and (at Harrison’s request) a number of Indian gurus. The final grouping included icons of pop culture like Marlene Dietrich, Carl Gustav Jung, W.C. Fields, Diana Dors, Bob Dylan, Marilyn Monroe, Aldous Huxley, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Sigmund Freud, Aleister Crowley, Edgar Allan Poe, Karl Marx, Oscar Wilde, William S. Burroughs, Marlon Brando, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Lenny Bruce, and the Beatles' original bass player, the late Stuart Sutcliffe.
Pete Best said in a later NPR interview that Lennon borrowed family medals from his mother Mona for the shoot, on the condition that he not lose them. Lennon had also requested to include Adolf Hitler and Jesus Christ, but ultimately they were left out.
Among the renowned individuals featured in this collage, there was also an illustrated portrait of an early stage actress and film star named Ruth Fallows by Alberto Vargas. The original painting was created in 1925 during his time working for the Ziegfeld Follies, but it wasn't well known until 1964, when it was featured in an article about Vargas in Playboy. It seems likely that the inclusion of this piece on the album cover represented Vargas' broad contribution to popular culture with his extremely iconic "Vargas Girl" pinups that first became famous during WWII, and went on to signify the liberated woman of the Sixties.
This painting of Ruth Fallows was held in Vargas' personal collection until his death in 1982. In 1985, it was included in the first-ever retrospective of his work held right here at SFAE.
Release Notes:
This fine-art screenprint with 24 colours and spot glazing was printed on Somerset tub sized paper (410gsm) by Peter Blake in 2007. It was published with permission from Apple Corps LTD to correspond with the 40th anniversary of the album's release. All the prints were produced and signed and numbered by Blake in the UK.
Collector's Notes:
This edition was limited to 500 pieces worldwide and sold out quickly. Occasionally we will have examples available for resale from previous buyers. Please contact us for current availability and pricing.
All buyers will receive a certificate of authenticity following the delivery of their new artwork.
27" x 28" Paper Size (19" x 19" Image Size)
Signed, limited edition (500)
Serigraph Print - One Available!