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AS11-40-5875 (Buzz Aldrin and the U.S. Flag)

  • $85.00

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

Add Custom Frame

SHIPPING FOR FRAMES ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN U.S.

On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to land on the moon. AS11-40-5875 shows Aldrin in salute surrounded by the distinct bootprints of his first steps, with the Lunar Module to the left. As instructed by then-President Richard Nixon, the two planted a U.S. flag to honor American taxpayers, all of whom contributed to this monumental achievement.


The flag itself soon became a favorite source of skepticism amongst conspiracy theorists as it appears to blow in the wind (an element the moon’s atmosphere lacks). However, the flag’s folds instead are an indicator not of a lunar breeze but of the moon’s gravitational force. As Aldrin and Armstrong wriggled the pole back and forth into the lunar soil, the motion created a ripple effect, and due to the unique atmosphere the fabric kept its bent shape.

The eye follows a trail of footprints from the rightmost corner of the frame to where they encircle the flagpole, the linear impression of the boot soles standing in stark contrast to the untouched lunar soil. It’s a symbolic scene that underscores the unfathomable consequence of the endeavor. The flag is rippled under the Moon’s gravitational force. (Sorry, conspiracy theorists—science explains that one.) The flag-planting performance is familiarly human and yet utterly otherworldly, the inky depths of space sharply swallowing the lunar horizon, the flag almost two-dimensional against the darkness. Aldrin faces toward the stars and stripes, at once emblematic of mankind and utterly companionless in the nothingness ... Read more on the blog! 

+ Limited-edition, exclusive to 20x200
+ Museum quality: archival inks, 100% cotton rag paper unless noted
+ Handcrafted custom-framing is available

Our quoted dimensions are for the size of paper containing the images, not the printed image itself. We do not alter the aspect ratio, nor do we crop or resize the artists’ originals. All of our prints have a minimum border of .5 inches to allow for framing.

Innova FibaPrint Warm Cotton Gloss

Edition Structure:
8"x8" | edition of 10
11"x11" | edition of 250
16"x16" | edition of 50
20"x20" | edition of 10
24"x24" | edition of 5