Even if you don’t recognize the name of Robert Freeman, odds are good that you’re familiar with his work. Freeman’s photographs appeared on the covers of a number of classic albums from The Beatles, including Help! and Rubber Soul, helping to shape the band in the minds of many.
Freeman’s long career has reached its end: Pitchfork reports that Freeman has died at the age of 82. The news came via The Beatles’ official Twitter account on Friday afternoon.
Robert Freeman, long time photographer of The Beatles, has passed away – he created some of the most iconic images of the band, featured on the album covers of With The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles For Sale, Help! and Rubber Soul. pic.twitter.com/W1upi05JCn
— The Beatles (@thebeatles) November 8, 2019
In 2015, The Line of Best Fit looked back on Freeman’s work with a headline dubbing him “The Greatest Forgotten Photographer of the 60s.” The article included his portraits of Andy Warhol and Muhammad Ali. He is particularly known for a 1965 photo, John Lennon With Panda, in which Lennon poses with a stuffed panda.
The Washington Post looked back on Freeman’s work and process, helping to explain how he created some of the most distinctive portraits of The Beatles, images which helped solidify the band’s public persona. It’s a fascinating look at how some of these photos came to be, and a reminder of the aesthetics and vision of the artist who took them.
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