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Limited edition semi-glossy 20 x 28 fine art photographic print of Elon Musk, entitled “The Monolith and the Visionary,” numbered 1/5, printed on 100% cotton, museum-quality archival paper. Photographed by Susan Werner on 35mm film in 2003 during a portrait session at SpaceX’s original facility in the formative days of the company, the striking vertical composition depicts the young SpaceX founder standing at the base of the immense, raw metal nose cone of the Falcon 1, dramatically emphasizing the scale of the early spacecraft and Musk’s place within the fledgling venture. The photograph is signed in the lower border in archival ink by Werner, who also signs an accompanying certificate of authenticity from Susan Werner Photography. In very fine condition.
The certificate provides Werner’s firsthand account of the 2003 session, explaining that the portrait was created during an editorial shoot for a major publication. Werner recalls being struck by the contrast between Musk and the towering Falcon 1 nose cone, describing him as possessing a quiet, intense focus as he prepared to show the world his ideas. Using the natural grain of 35mm film and dramatic cinematic lighting to emphasize the raw textures, rivets, and hand-crafted seams of the early spacecraft, Werner captured what she describes as a historic time capsule from the moment SpaceX was preparing to disrupt the global space industry. Dedicated portrait sessions of Musk from SpaceX’s formative years are seldom encountered.
