At a Christie's auction, a unique painting created by the legendary Beatles band during their stay in Tokyo fetched $1.7 million, far exceeding its anticipated $600,000 value. This artwork, "Images of a Woman" from 1966, showcases the band's lesser-known artistic talents, with all four members—John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison—contributing to its creation. They produced this mixed media painting of acrylic and watercolor during a 100-hour confinement in the Hilton Hotel's Presidential Suite from June 29 to July 3, 1966, amidst their concert series at Budokan Hall. This was a security measure by Japanese officials.
The Beatles, though primarily celebrated for their groundbreaking music, also engaged in visual arts, as evidenced by this painting. The creation process, documented by photographer Robert Whitaker, involved the band members using premium art supplies gifted by visitors. They encircled a table, a lamp securing the paper, which left a noticeable circle at the center, signed by all four. Each had a background in art, notably Lennon with three years of art school and published caricature collections.
The artwork's evolution was spontaneous, with no discussions on its direction, resulting in a piece that Robert Whitaker noted for its natural emergence. "Images of a Woman" is distinguished as the sole major art piece collectively made by the Beatles during their time together, offering a rare glimpse into their collaborative creativity outside of music. Initially given to Tetsusaburo Shimoyama, the head of Japan's official Beatles Fan Club, it later changed hands to Takao Nishino in 1989, who kept it hidden under a bed for years before Tracks Ltd., a UK Beatles memorabilia dealer, consigned it to Christie's for auction.
Selena Mattei