John Lennon and George Harrison Photographed by Astrid Kirchherr in Stuart Sutcliffe’s Room in Hamburg, 1962

Just days before the photo was taken, Stuart Sutcliffe, the Beatles’ original bassist and Astrid Kirchherr’s fiancé, tragically died of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 21. The Beatles, who were returning to Hamburg for another series of performances, were met at the airport by a distraught Astrid, who broke the news of Stuart’s death.

According to Astrid, it was John’s suggestion to visit Stuart’s room in her family’s attic, where he had worked as an artist. John, deeply affected by the loss of his close friend, wanted to see the space where Stuart had created his paintings.

Astrid recounted that in that moment, seeing John so full of emotion, she felt compelled to take a picture. She grabbed an old chair and placed it in the room. John was overcome with grief, nearly bursting into tears, while George Harrison, who was only 18 at the time, appeared worried. Astrid told George to stand behind John, and she observed how quickly he understood the gravity of the situation, the stark reality of “death and being alive.” George’s eyes in the photograph are often described as being full of protection for John, who was visibly “falling to bits.”

Astrid’s composition often emphasizes stark contrast, shadows, and natural light—these photographs are no exception. They capture a raw and vulnerable moment for Lennon and Harrison, mourning the loss of their friend and fellow Beatle. They stand as a testament to the strong bond within the early Beatles and the profound impact Sutcliffe had on their lives, even after his departure from the band to pursue his art career. The images are a significant piece of Beatles history, illustrating a period of personal tragedy just before their rise to global superstardom.

Stuart Sutcliffe was the original bassist for The Beatles during their early Hamburg days and a close friend of John Lennon. After leaving the band in 1961 to pursue painting, Sutcliffe remained in Hamburg, where he studied at the Hamburg College of Art under Eduardo Paolozzi and lived with Astrid Kirchherr, his fiancée. Tragically, Sutcliffe died in April 1962 from a brain hemorrhage at just 21 years old.

After his death, Astrid Kirchherr, a talented photographer and stylist who helped shape the Beatles’ early image (including their iconic mop-top hairstyles), continued to document the band and those close to them.