In the summer of 1966, The Beatles were touring Japan, playing five shows in just three days at the Nippon Budokan arena. Between performances, the band found themselves holed up in the presidential suite of the Tokyo Hilton, creating a unique piece of art. That creation, known as “Images of a Woman,” was recently sold at Christie’s auction house in New York on February 1.
Initially estimated to sell for between $400,000 and $600,000, the painting ultimately fetched an astonishing $1,744,000. “Images of a Woman” is one of the few tangible artifacts from The Beatles, a rare relic that captures a special moment in the band’s history, according to Christie’s specialist Casey Rogers.
The Beatles spent about 100 hours in Japan during their 1966 tour, mostly confined to their hotel room due to security concerns. In that space, they were gifted art supplies, leading the band members to gather around a table and create a collective artwork. Each Beatles member worked on a different section of the piece, with the background sounds of their recording sessions for Revolver. Photographer Robert Whitaker, who was working with the band, captured the moment. He recalled, “I never saw them calmer or more contented than at this time.”
The Beatles were no strangers to art—John Lennon had attended art school, and Paul McCartney had studied the subject as well. George Harrison and Ringo Starr were also talented artists. Each section of the painting reflects the individual styles of the band members: Harrison’s portion features dark, intense brushstrokes, while Starr’s is smaller and cartoonish. Lennon and McCartney preferred acrylics, while Harrison and Starr used watercolors. At the center of the painting, where a lamp once stood, are their signatures.
The painting was originally untitled but became known as “Images of a Woman” in the late 1980s, when a Japanese journalist suggested Paul McCartney’s section resembled female genitalia. “It’s all very much in the eye of the beholder,” Rogers said, acknowledging the evolving interpretations of the work.
After its creation, the painting was acquired by Tetsusaburo Shimoyama, chairman of Tokyo’s Beatles fan club, and later sold to record store owner Takao Nishino in 1989. For years, Nishino stored the painting under his bed until he decided to auction it off. He noted that while he initially thought the painting should remain in Japan as a cultural artifact, he ultimately felt it was better appreciated globally.
The sale of “Images of a Woman” highlights the ongoing cultural relevance of The Beatles, who continue to dominate the headlines, even as recently as with the AI-assisted release of “Now and Then,” a long-unfinished track.
“Images of a Woman” was part of Christie’s “Exceptional Sale,” which features rare, historically significant objects from the worlds of art, music, and culture. As Rogers noted, the painting is a direct reflection of The Beatles’ time in Japan—a moment of creativity and togetherness during a pivotal period in the band’s history. Shortly after this, the group would stop touring, focusing instead on studio work, making this artwork one of the last lasting memories of their live performances.
