The Beatles' Collaborative Masterpiece: On-Tour Painting to be Auctioned
Images of a Woman is the remarkable masterpiece jointly crafted by all four Beatles during their tour in Japan This exclusive painting, created in a Tokyo hotel, holds immense historical significance Anticipated to fetch up to $600,000 at auction, it stands as a testament to the enduring charm and artistic prowess of the legendary band
In the summer of 1966, The Beatles were on tour and played five shows in just three days at Japan's prestigious Nippon Budokan arena. During their downtime, they stayed in the presidential suite of the Tokyo Hilton where they collaborated on creating their iconic work of art, "Images of a Woman."
The painting, thought to be the only artwork created or signed by all four Beatles, will be auctioned at Christies in New York on February 1. "Images of a Woman" is expected to sell for $400,000 to $600,000 and is described as capturing a special moment in Beatles history by Christies specialist Casey Rogers.
"It's rare to have a piece on paper from The Beatles that is a physical relic, a tangible object with contributions from all four members," she said of the 21.5- by 31-inch painting.
"It's memorabilia, a work of art, and appeals to a much larger cross-section of collectors... It's a wonderful piece of storytelling."
How Images of a Woman was created
As the story goes, the Fab Four spent about 100 hours in Japan during their 1966 tour.
Outside of performing (and aside from two instances where Paul McCartney and John Lennon each slipped out with members of their entourage for sightseeing adventures in Tokyo), the group stayed put in their hotel room at the behest of local authorities who were concerned about their safety. The bands visit to the country drew adoring fans and protesters alikethere were reports of threats from Japanese nationalists, including some angry about a Western rock band playing an arena considered a spiritual home for martial arts.
The Beatles arrive at Tokyo's airport for their brief tour of Japan in 1966.
Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images/File
The band received an art supplies gift from a visitor, and according to Christies press release, found themselves seated around a table with a blank sheet of Japanese art paper and a lamp placed on it. Each member of the Beatles sat at a different corner, painting to the background sounds of the "Revolver" album being recorded. Photographer Robert Whitaker, represented by the band's manager Brian Epstein, was present to capture the group at work. According to Christies release, he observed that the band was never calmer or more contented than at this time.
The Beatles were deeply involved in visual arts, with Lennon and McCartney both having studied the subject. In addition, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were known for their talent in drawing. The Christies press release added that each corner of the painting reflects a personal touch, with a wide variety of shapes, colors, and types of paint used. Harrison's section stands out the most with its darker and more aggressive brushstrokes, while Starr's area is smaller and more cartoonish. The press release from Christies also noted that Lennon and McCartney primarily used acrylic paint, while Harrison and Starr preferred watercolor.
In the center, where the lamp used to be, are the signatures. The Beatles never officially titled their painting, but it became known as "Images of a Woman" in the late 1980s when a Japanese journalist claimed to see female genitals in Paul's quadrant, according to Christies.
Rogers stated, "It's really subjective, isn't it?" The original intention of the painting wasn't the main focus. I believe it was more about freedom and expression for the members."
"It's fascinating how the painting has been interpreted differently over time and will likely continue to be interpreted in various ways."
The image above, captured on June 29, 1966, depicts The Beatles, with Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison from left to right, conducting a press conference in Tokyo. Despite not performing at the Nippon Budokan arena, the band dedicated most of their time to their hotel room, where they collaborated on a painting.
The painting was completed and then acquired by Tetsusaburo Shimoyama, an executive in the entertainment industry who was the chairman of Tokyos Beatles fan club at the time. In 1989, it was bought by record store owner Takao Nishino, who later put "Images of a Woman" up for auction, as reported by The Atlantic in 2012. The magazine noted that Nishino had stored the piece under a bed for some years.
The Beatles enduring appeal
After Nishino made the decision to let go of the painting, he expressed to The Atlantic: "At first, I thought it would be best to preserve it as a part of Japan's cultural heritage; it hadn't left Japanese soil for 46 years. But the Beatles phenomenon was and still is a worldwide one."
Beatlemania has persisted for decades following the band's breakup, and as Rogers pointed out, "they're always making news." The ongoing interest in the band's music, the lives of its members, and their influence on pop culture significantly contributes to their enduring appeal, she added. "We've even seen them making headlines as recently as (last month) with the aid of AI," she said, referring to the release of "Now and Then," a song that had long been unfinished but was ultimately completed using artificial intelligence.
"Images of a Woman" will be featured in the "Exceptional Sale" at Christies, an annual auction event held in New York, London, and Paris.
According to Rogers, these are rare, one-of-a-kind objects of historical significance that are considered masterpiece-level. The Beatles painting will be up for auction along with other rock and roll memorabilia, fine works of art, sports-related artifacts, and more.
In 1966, The Beatles rocked the stage at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo during one of their electrifying concerts. The band's focus shifted to studio recordings later that year, leading to their decision to cease touring by August.
The Beatles' "Images of a Woman" was a unique result of a specific moment in the band's career, not widely celebrated or known. By August 1966, less than two months after leaving Japan, the band had concluded their rigorous touring with their last concert at San Francisco's Candlestick Park, and shifted their focus to studio work, with only a 1969 rooftop performance as an exception.
Rogers observed that (Images of a Woman) truly captures the depth of their 100 hours spent together. It was likely one of their last opportunities to sit and reflect without the pressure of other commitments, focusing solely on their concerts at Budokan. She also suggested that it may have served as a form of release during the lockdown, providing them with a valuable creative outlet.
