The cover of "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd is one of those rare cases where an image becomes legend. A simple prism crossed by a beam of light. Geometry, color, and mystery fused into an eternal symbol.

Within that image lies the essence of Pink Floyd. Minimalist yet powerful, the cover of "The Dark Side of the Moon" is a visual manifesto of music itself, capable of turning physics into poetry.

The cover of the album that, in 1973, crowned Pink Floyd as one of the most influential bands of all time is now at the center of Italy’s first-ever music memorabilia auction, organized by Aste Bolaffi.

How the Cover of “The Dark Side of the Moon” Was Born

It was 1973 when the design studio Hipgnosis was commissioned to create the new cover for the London band. Richard Wright asked graphic designer Storm Thorgerson—schoolmate of Syd Barrett and Roger Waters, and co-founder of the studio with Aubrey Powell—for something “clean and classy". EMI executives would never have approved another bold experiment like the cow photograph on the cover of Atom Heart Mother.

The inspiration came from a physics textbook: a simple prism crossed by light. Thorgerson reinterpreted it with a geometric, minimalist style on a black background. The light spectrum continues inside the sleeve, forming the trace of a heartbeat, a direct reference to Breathe, the opening track of the album.

It was love at first sight. When the project was presented to the band, there was no doubt: this would be the cover.

The Meaning of the “Dark Side of the Moon” Prism

In the context of the album, the light entering the prism represents reality, the prism itself symbolizes the human mind, and the refracted spectrum depicts the multiplicity of experiences, emotions, and perceptions. Roger Waters’ lyrics explore themes such as inner conflict, money, the passage of time, death, and mental alienation — the latter partly inspired by Syd Barrett’s psychological collapse.

«I think the triangle, a symbol of thought and ambition, was a recurring theme in Roger’s lyrics – Thorgerson told "Rolling Stone" magazine during an interview – So the triangle was a very appropriate icon to use and transform into the prism».

“The Dark Side of the Moon” Memorabilia at Auction

On October 30, 2025, Aste Bolaffi makes its debut in the world of music with an extraordinary auction featuring memorabilia, records, and graphic artworks dedicated to major icons of international and Italian music — from Pink Floyd to the Ramones, from Lucio Battisti to Mina.

Among the most anticipated lots are the official “The Dark Side of the Moon” collectibles, produced in limited editions and signed by Storm Thorgerson. Lot 28 is a C-print photograph made from the original negative of the 30th Anniversary Edition of the album. Lots 58 and 66 are screen prints inspired by the work of René Magritte, the artist who also collaborated with legendary bands such as Led Zeppelin, Genesis, and Peter Gabriel.

Alongside the Pink Floyd items, the auction will also feature iconic pieces from other giants of music. Among those, a Ramones jacket signed and worn by one of the band members, autographed CDs by Nirvana and Queen, the original demo of “Hey ragazzo” by Lucio Battisti, and the original matrix of Mina’s “Tintarella di Luna.”