Focus on... « Dylan » by Milton Glaser

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In 1966, while folk-rock star Bob Dylan was quietly recovering from a serious motorcycle accident, Columbia Records came up with a promotional idea for the release of Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits (1967). John Berg, the label’s art director at the time, commissioned graphic designer Milton Glaser (1929–2020) to create a poster to be included with each vinyl record. At that point, Glaser had only designed three or four posters and was relatively unknown—but not for long. In 1968, he would co-found New York magazine with editor Clay Felker, and in 1977, he would design the enduring “I ♥ NY” logo for the city of New York.

Drawing inspiration from a 1957 self-portrait by Marcel Duchamp, which depicted the artist in profile, Glaser played with contrasts, transforming Dylan’s famously unruly hair into a kaleidoscopic swirl of psychedelic colors. This aesthetic echoed the countercultural rock posters of the era, reminiscent of bands like the Grateful Dead. Glaser also cited the visual effects of Art Nouveau, particularly the work of British artist Aubrey Beardsley, as a source of inspiration. At the bottom right of the poster, the name “Dylan” appears without his first name, in a custom typeface designed specifically by Glaser—almost like a brand unto itself.

Folded and tucked into each copy of Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits, which sold over six million copies, the poster quickly became iconic. It is now highly sought after by collectors (vintage prints bear visible fold marks) and has been officially reissued by Milton Glaser’s studio.

Often described as eclectic, Milton Glaser’s work draws inspiration from a wide range of sources: Art Deco, Surrealism, Oriental art, Islamic painting, and Arabian carpets, among others. His creations reference figures as varied as Max Ernst, René Magritte, Piero della Francesca, Georges Seurat, and Marcel Duchamp. Glaser produced an extraordinary number of magazine covers and illustrations for publications like Time, Life, and New York, as well as record sleeves, posters, children’s book covers, and designs for political and social movements. He is regarded as one of the greatest graphic designers of the 20th century, standing alongside figures like László Moholy-Nagy, Paul Rand, and Herb Lubalin.

In 1977, the year of its opening, the Centre Pompidou hosted one of the first retrospectives dedicated to the American artist, highlighting the diversity of his work and the profound influence of his hometown, New York. For Glaser, the city was "the global center of communication and information." ◼