18 Unseen Black and White Photographs of Bob Dylan Taken by Douglas Gilbert in 1964

In August 1964, twenty-one-year-old photographer Douglas R. Gilbert, on assignment for LOOK magazine, photographed an up-and-coming folk singer named Bob Dylan. Just twenty-three years old, Dylan had already composed a striking body of work, including "Blowin' in the Wind," yet he himself was still relatively unknown.

All that was about to change. For more than a week, Gilbert photographed a surprisingly open Bob Dylan, smiling and relaxed among friends like musician John Sebastian and poet Allen Ginsberg. To Gilbert's dismay, LOOK deemed Dylan's appearance "too scruffy" for a family magazine, and the images remained unpublished and unseen, until now.

(left to right) Mason Hoffenberg, John Sebastian, Bob Dylan and Victor Maymudes, Cafe Espresso, Woodstock, NY

Bob Dylan jammin' with John Sebastian, Cafe Epsresso, Woodstock, NY

Bob Dylan lighting up at the Kettle of Fish Bar, Greenwich Village, NY

Dylan at the Kettle Of Fish Bar, Greenwich Village, NY

Bob Dylan at home, smoking in yard, Woodstock, NY

John Sebastian & Bob Dylan jammin' at the Cafe Espresso, Woodstock, NY

Bob Dylan on Triumph, behind Cafe Espresso, Woodstock, NY

Bob Dylan at home waving to poet Allen Ginsberg, Woodstock, NY

Bob Dylan behind the Cafe Espresso in Woodstock, NY with the daughter of Bernard and Mary Lou Paturel (owners of the cafe)

Bob Dylan and Joan Baez performing at Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI

(left to right) Mason Hoffenberger, John Sebastian, Bob Dylan at Cafe Espresso, Woodstock, NY

Bob Dylan in yard at home, Woodstock, NY

Bob Dylan watching Dean Martin at home, Woodstock, NY

Bob Dylan, John Sebastian and the Paturel clan, Woodstock, NY

Bob Dylan and Ramblin' Jack Elliot in Greenwich Village, NY

"Take one now, the pictures already framed" Bob Dylan, the Kettle of Fish Bar, Greenwich Village, NY

Bob Dylan in bookstore, Greenwich Village, NY

Bob Dylan, day performance at Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI

(Photos © Douglas R. Gilbert)