Original Beatles George Harrison Portrait by Richard Avedon, On Linen
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About This Piece
“Mystic George” — George Harrison
An original 1967 first-edition psychedelic portrait of George Harrison — titled “Mystic George” — from Richard Avedon’s landmark Beatles series. This is the German Stern edition: printed in England by Waterlow & Sons and distributed by Populäre Propaganda Presse (PPP), Düsseldorf. Widely regarded as the strongest graphic of the four, the image fuses Avedon’s solarized portraiture with Day-Glo color and Eastern symbolism — the all-seeing eye in the raised palm, lotus blooms, and henna detailing.
Not a reproduction. A genuine 1967 first printing — the only version considered an authentic original.
Details
| Artist | Richard Avedon (1923–2004) |
| Subject / Title | George Harrison, The Beatles — “Mystic George” |
| Year | 1967 — Limited First Edition |
| Edition / Source | Stern (German-market printing) |
| Rights / Printer | © NEMS Enterprises Ltd. · Printed in England by Waterlow & Sons Ltd. · PPP, Düsseldorf |
| Medium | Offset lithograph (solarized with Day-Glo overlays) |
| Size | Approx. 19″ × 27″ (50 × 70 cm) image, plus linen border |
| Provenance | Gauntlet Gallery (est. 2012, San Francisco) |
About the Work
Beatles manager Brian Epstein commissioned Avedon to photograph the band on 11 August 1967 in London, capturing the psychedelic turn of the Sgt. Pepper era. Avedon distorted four solarized portraits with Day-Glo overlays and symbolic attributes; the set’s order form named them Flame Bright John, Flower Power Paul, Mystic George, and Dove Loving Ringo. The images were first published in the 9 January 1968 issue of Look and distributed simultaneously by Look (US), the Daily Express (UK), and Stern (Europe), alongside a black-and-white “Mount Rushmore” banner that completes the set of five.
Though originally printed in a large edition at the height of Beatlemania, few survive unused — most were taped to walls and discarded. An example of the Stern set is held in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
About the Artist
Richard Avedon (1923–2004) was one of the most influential photographers of the twentieth century, redefining fashion and portraiture at Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and The New Yorker. His psychedelic Beatles series stands among his most iconic non-fashion works and a defining visual statement of the 1960s.