More Analysis:
The burning man picture is based on the phrase “getting burned.” The four elements (earth, air, fire, and water) and a theme of absence permiate the cover art. The burning man-fire. The diver on the postcard-water. The inner sleeve with the picture of a red veil blowing in the breeze-air. The faceless faceless salesman in the sand-earth.
On the original release the album was covered with a black (U.K) or blue (U.S.) shrink wrap so that you could not see the album cover-a form of absence. On the shrink wrap, a round mechanical handshake sticker was atached. The mechanical handshake traverses a circle divided into four quadrants consisting of the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. The elements are mystical and alchemical references that reflect different aspects of Pink Floyd’s music. The four elements also refer to the four band members, and the four faces of the package.
As for absence, all the pictures on the album refer to a theme of absence. The burning man (too frightened to be present lest he be burned). The diver (his splash is absent). Mechanical handshake (an empty gesture). Postcard (where people write “wish you were here,” often not meaning it). The businessman (often exhibit an absence of care or concern for others). The faceless salesman without a body (indicating his lack of humanity). The swimmer in the sand (an absence of water, an absence of awareness, an absence of purpose). The veil (a symbol of absence or departure at funerals, and a way of hiding a face or making it absent). The red veil hides a naked woman (an absence of clothes).
On the original release the album was covered with a black (U.K) or blue (U.S.) shrink wrap so that you could not see the album cover-a form of absence. On the shrink wrap, a round mechanical handshake sticker was atached. The mechanical handshake traverses a circle divided into four quadrants consisting of the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. The elements are mystical and alchemical references that reflect different aspects of Pink Floyd’s music. The four elements also refer to the four band members, and the four faces of the package.
As for absence, all the pictures on the album refer to a theme of absence. The burning man (too frightened to be present lest he be burned). The diver (his splash is absent). Mechanical handshake (an empty gesture). Postcard (where people write “wish you were here,” often not meaning it). The businessman (often exhibit an absence of care or concern for others). The faceless salesman without a body (indicating his lack of humanity). The swimmer in the sand (an absence of water, an absence of awareness, an absence of purpose). The veil (a symbol of absence or departure at funerals, and a way of hiding a face or making it absent). The red veil hides a naked woman (an absence of clothes).
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