On the 19th of April 1973, the Aladdin Sane album was released to critical acclaim. The music speaks for itself but rarely has a portrait on an album cover become the definitive image of one man. Rarely has an image become known as a cultural icon (as quoted by the V&A) or popularly known as the  ‘Mona Lisa of Pop’. Thousands of words have been written on the image, numerous interpretations of the pool of liquid on David Bowie’s collarbone and the lighting flash has been replicated ad infinitum.

The defining images of Duffy and Bowie’s creative relationship are synonymous with the legacy of both artists. Bowie's manager, Tony Defries, commissioned Duffy Design Concepts to create the entire Aladdin Sane album. The brief was simple: "Can you make it expensive?" The intention was to take Bowie to an international level. If the production cost were so expensive, the record label would have to pay attention. A dye-transfer image was the answer. This notoriously costly process, with production in Switzerland, ensured that RCA invested in the up-and-coming star. Duffy drew the iconic red and blue 'lightning bolt' across David’s face in lipstick. Makeup artist Pierre Laroche then filled in the outline. The image was sent to airbrush artist Philip Castle, who had previously worked with Duffy on the 1973 Pirelli Calendar.  Castle added the water symbol to Bowie’s clavicle, which Bowie later remarked he thought was "quite sweet".

Our Standard Archival Quality Pigment Ink Prints come in two sizes, the Standard and the Gallery.

The Standard is approx. 7.5″x7.5″ (19.05cm x 19.05cm) in a 12.4″x12.4″ (31.5cm x 31.5cm) mount. Our Standard Size open edition prints are the same size as a 12.4" vinyl album sleeve for convenient framing.

The Gallery is approx. 10.5"x 10.5" (27cm x 27cm) in a 19.75" x 19.75" (50cm x 50cm) mount. Our Gallery Size open edition prints drop straight into 50cm x 50cm frames which are ready available from many retailers. High quality black frames for Gallery prints can be made in house for mainland UK orders. Please contact us if you would like a framed print and a quote will be provided.

All of our images are ready to frame, supplied with a choice of either a black or white acid-free mount. A mount is a paper-based border around framed images between the frame and the image. The mount adds an extra decorative element and also prevents the image from making contact with the glass/perspex. We supply two sizes of mount in either square or landscape/portrait aperture, in three colours - white, black and silver.

As with all our prints, each open edition is handmade, printed, assembled and packed at the Duffy Archive. Each print is embossed with the Duffy Archive stamp, and the reverse of each mount has a sticker detailing a brief history of the session and ink stamped with a logo from Duffy's camera cases.

For the 50th anniversary of this image, the Aladdin Sane 50 book was written in celebration of this iconic session with David Bowie. Half a century after the album’s release this image is still controversial, fresh, challenging, beautiful and ethereal. One never tires of its simplicity and boldness.

Limited to 1000 Aladdin Sane hardback books with two bound-in 5”x7” postcards of previously unreleased images. This edition is exclusive to the Duffy Archive and all books are embossed with the AS50 stamp, the Duffy Archive stamp and signed by Chris Duffy. The books can be personalised with a message upon request.

Limited and Signed editions are available, to discuss options please Contact Us.