Michael Joseph (1941-) - Nivea now in tubs - blue, authentic vintage darkroom print
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Selected by Elena Vaninetti
Has over ten years of experience in art, specialising in post-war photography and contemporary art.
Estimate € 500 - € 600
 | €18 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €15 | |
 | €10 | |
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Michael Joseph's Nivea now in tubs – blue is a unique 1985 gelatin-silver print, hand-signed by the artist, measuring 20 × 15 cm with an off-white mount (30 × 40 cm).
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Michael Joseph (1941– )
Nivea – Now in Tubs
Unique Original Blue-Toned Darkroom Print – Hand-Printed and Signed by Michael Joseph
Photographer: Michael Joseph
Original photograph: 1980s
Medium: Original glossy photographic print, individually produced and blue-toned by Michael Joseph in his own darkroom
Signature: Hand-signed by the photographer
Presentation: Silver-coloured photographic mount
Print creation: Michael Joseph's darkroom, Clapham, London
Edition: Unique (1/1) in this particular size and colour treatment
Mount dimensions: 30 × 40 cm
Provenance: Directly from the Michael Joseph family photographic archive
An Iconic Advertising Image, Reimagined in Blue
One of the most recognisable photographs from Michael Joseph's celebrated Nivea Now in Tubs campaign, this extraordinary original darkroom print transforms a familiar advertising image into something altogether more mysterious, intimate and artistic.
A solitary female figure sits at the edge of a bath, her profile delicately illuminated against a softly marbled background.
Rendered in rich, atmospheric blue-grey tones, the composition possesses an almost ethereal quality, balancing elegance, sensuality and quiet introspection.
The graceful silhouette feels sculptural, while the subtle variations of tone created through Michael Joseph's experimental darkroom processing lend the photograph a painterly depth and individuality quite unlike a conventional commercial reproduction.
The Story Behind the Photograph
Created during the mid-1980s for Nivea's transition from tubes to tubs, this image belongs to one of Michael Joseph's most memorable advertising commissions.
Yet the story behind its creation is delightfully characteristic of the photographer's humour.
While viewers might imagine elaborate artistic symbolism behind the model's elegant pose, Michael recalled a rather more practical explanation: the model had what he affectionately described as “knobbly knees”, and the advertising agency preferred a composition that did not feature them too prominently!
What might have begun as a practical decision became an enduringly elegant and memorable advertising image.
It is precisely this combination of ingenuity, humour and extraordinary visual instinct that distinguished Michael Joseph's photographic career.
A Unique Darkroom Experiment
This particular print is especially interesting because it was produced personally by Michael Joseph in his Clapham darkroom, rather than being a later reproduction.
Working with traditional photographic materials and experimental blue-toning techniques, he transformed the original advertising photograph into a distinctive artwork with its own character and atmosphere.
The glossy surface, unusual colouration and subtle tonal variations are characteristic of individually produced darkroom work.
Unlike a modern digital print, this photograph is a tangible product of the photographer's own experimentation with photographic chemistry, exposure and colour.
To our knowledge, no other print exists in precisely this combination of size and blue colouration.
The photograph is personally signed by Michael Joseph, providing a direct connection to the artist and his original working practice.
Presentation and Condition - Please Read Carefully
The original photograph is presented in a silver-coloured mount, which beautifully complements the blue-grey tones of the image.
Important condition disclosure: The silver-coloured mount displays visible creases and surface marks, particularly along the right-hand side.
As shown clearly in the accompanying close-up photograph, there is a noticeable fine, irregular horizontal crease across the right section of the mount, together with a further crease or pressure mark lower down.
These marks affect the mount rather than the photographic image itself, as far as can be determined from the visible presentation.
They are disclosed openly so that prospective buyers can assess the condition accurately before bidding.
The mount is part of the photograph's existing presentation and has been retained rather than replaced. A future owner could, of course, choose to have the photograph professionally remounted if a more pristine presentation were preferred.
The print and its original presentation should be appreciated as an authentic archival object, with characteristics reflecting its history and handling over the intervening decades.
Please examine all photographs carefully, particularly the detailed image showing the creases in the silver-coloured mount.
Provenance and Authenticity
The photograph comes directly from the Michael Joseph family archive.
The reverse retains archival markings and a Michael Joseph studio label, providing further context for its provenance.
Michael Joseph, perhaps best known for his iconic photographs for the Rolling Stones' Beggars Banquet album, was one of Britain's most imaginative advertising photographers, active from the 1960s through to the early 1990s.
His work combined meticulous technical expertise with theatrical composition, visual humour and an unmistakable sense of originality.
This print offers collectors something particularly special: not merely an example of one of his celebrated advertising images, but a glimpse into his own experimental darkroom practice.
A Rare Opportunity for Collectors
An original, hand-signed photographic print, personally produced and unusually blue-toned by Michael Joseph himself.
A celebrated image from an important British advertising campaign, presented in a distinctive and apparently unique darkroom interpretation.
Not a modern reproduction. Not a contemporary reprint. An original photographic object, created by the photographer's own hand.
Despite the disclosed creases in the silver-coloured mount, the photograph remains a particularly appealing piece of Michael Joseph's photographic history.
One image. One distinctive darkroom treatment. One surviving example in this particular size and colouration.
Offered directly from the photographer's family archive.
Dispatch: Carefully packed flat between rigid protective boards, with particular attention to protecting the photographic surface and existing mount. As always, this one-off historical piece will be prepared for its journey with great care and respect.
#MichaelJoseph #Nivea #NowInTubs #VintagePhotography #OriginalDarkroomPrint #SilverGelatinPhotography #BlueTonedPhotography #SignedPhotography #BritishAdvertising #AdvertisingPhotography #1980sPhotography #AnaloguePhotography #FineArtPhotography #PhotographicArchives #UniquePhotograph #PhotographyCollectors
Seller's Story
My father, Michael Joseph, was a London-based advertising photographer from the 1960s to the early 1990s, perhaps best known for his iconic photographs for the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet album.
Such was Michael’s extraordinary talent for orchestrating elaborate group scenes, often bringing together large numbers of people and animals in seemingly effortless harmony, that these wonderfully theatrical compositions became known within the advertising industry simply as “a Michael Joseph” - a style so distinctive that his name became a description in its own right.
Our continuing mission is to share what we affectionately call “the other photographs”: lesser-known treasures from his remarkable archive, including original vintage darkroom prints, experimental test prints, alternative images from major shoots, celebrated group compositions and more intimate, personal photographs.
Among our most exciting discoveries is Michael’s extraordinary 1964 Vietnam archive, photographed when he was just 23. Many of these powerful images have never previously been exhibited or offered for sale, revealing a fascinating, lesser-known side of his career.
There is also a wonderfully poetic quality to much of his work: unexpected encounters, fleeting moments and what we like to call “immortalised instants” - those unrepeatable fragments of everyday life that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
All beautifully summed up in Michael’s favourite adage:
“Always keep a camera handy, every minute of your living day.”
A philosophy he certainly lived by, leaving us an extraordinary collection that we are still discovering today.
Alongside Michael’s authentic vintage prints, we are introducing new interpretations of his work: striking photographic prints on aluminium and handmade cyanotypes, created from his original negatives and transparencies using the Dordogne sunshine. Some are produced on vintage papers from Michael’s own photographic library, giving these historic materials a wonderful new lease of life.
Together, these works celebrate photographic history and contemporary creativity - from unique prints made by Michael himself to imaginative new interpretations of his archive.
We hope you enjoy discovering these photographs as much as we enjoy bringing them to light!
A Small Note About the Presentation Photographs
Some of our in situ illustrations showing artworks displayed in interiors have been created using artificial intelligence (AI).
These are intended simply to help you imagine how a piece might look in a home, office or gallery. Although we aim for faithful representations, proportions and scale may occasionally vary.
Please refer to the actual artwork photographs and stated dimensions for an accurate representation of your purchase.
A Personal Note About Packaging
We prepare and pack every artwork ourselves, taking great care to protect each piece with several layers of suitable materials.
To keep costs down and minimise waste, we reuse and upcycle packaging wherever possible. Your parcel may therefore contain recycled cardboard, protective sleeves, old photographic boxes or envelopes - occasionally even materials from Michael’s own photographic library!
And please don't be surprised if the outside looks rather plain, or even a little unattractive. This is often deliberate! We prefer valuable or irreplaceable artworks to travel as inconspicuously as possible.
One small favour: please unwrap your parcel slowly and carefully.
We sometimes use several layers of cardboard, paper and protective wrapping, secured with tape. Please take particular care when using scissors or a blade, as tape can occasionally catch on adjoining layers or items inside.
We would rather spend a little extra time protecting your purchase than risk damage in transit, and hope you will forgive our occasionally unconventional packaging!
After all, it's what's inside that matters, not the wrapping!
Every purchase helps us preserve, explore and share Michael’s remarkable photographic archive, while giving these images a new home and another chapter in their history.
For US Buyers
Customs duties and applicable import charges are paid at source and included in the shipping cost. No additional charges should normally be payable upon delivery, subject to changes in customs regulations.
Michael Joseph (1941– )
Nivea – Now in Tubs
Unique Original Blue-Toned Darkroom Print – Hand-Printed and Signed by Michael Joseph
Photographer: Michael Joseph
Original photograph: 1980s
Medium: Original glossy photographic print, individually produced and blue-toned by Michael Joseph in his own darkroom
Signature: Hand-signed by the photographer
Presentation: Silver-coloured photographic mount
Print creation: Michael Joseph's darkroom, Clapham, London
Edition: Unique (1/1) in this particular size and colour treatment
Mount dimensions: 30 × 40 cm
Provenance: Directly from the Michael Joseph family photographic archive
An Iconic Advertising Image, Reimagined in Blue
One of the most recognisable photographs from Michael Joseph's celebrated Nivea Now in Tubs campaign, this extraordinary original darkroom print transforms a familiar advertising image into something altogether more mysterious, intimate and artistic.
A solitary female figure sits at the edge of a bath, her profile delicately illuminated against a softly marbled background.
Rendered in rich, atmospheric blue-grey tones, the composition possesses an almost ethereal quality, balancing elegance, sensuality and quiet introspection.
The graceful silhouette feels sculptural, while the subtle variations of tone created through Michael Joseph's experimental darkroom processing lend the photograph a painterly depth and individuality quite unlike a conventional commercial reproduction.
The Story Behind the Photograph
Created during the mid-1980s for Nivea's transition from tubes to tubs, this image belongs to one of Michael Joseph's most memorable advertising commissions.
Yet the story behind its creation is delightfully characteristic of the photographer's humour.
While viewers might imagine elaborate artistic symbolism behind the model's elegant pose, Michael recalled a rather more practical explanation: the model had what he affectionately described as “knobbly knees”, and the advertising agency preferred a composition that did not feature them too prominently!
What might have begun as a practical decision became an enduringly elegant and memorable advertising image.
It is precisely this combination of ingenuity, humour and extraordinary visual instinct that distinguished Michael Joseph's photographic career.
A Unique Darkroom Experiment
This particular print is especially interesting because it was produced personally by Michael Joseph in his Clapham darkroom, rather than being a later reproduction.
Working with traditional photographic materials and experimental blue-toning techniques, he transformed the original advertising photograph into a distinctive artwork with its own character and atmosphere.
The glossy surface, unusual colouration and subtle tonal variations are characteristic of individually produced darkroom work.
Unlike a modern digital print, this photograph is a tangible product of the photographer's own experimentation with photographic chemistry, exposure and colour.
To our knowledge, no other print exists in precisely this combination of size and blue colouration.
The photograph is personally signed by Michael Joseph, providing a direct connection to the artist and his original working practice.
Presentation and Condition - Please Read Carefully
The original photograph is presented in a silver-coloured mount, which beautifully complements the blue-grey tones of the image.
Important condition disclosure: The silver-coloured mount displays visible creases and surface marks, particularly along the right-hand side.
As shown clearly in the accompanying close-up photograph, there is a noticeable fine, irregular horizontal crease across the right section of the mount, together with a further crease or pressure mark lower down.
These marks affect the mount rather than the photographic image itself, as far as can be determined from the visible presentation.
They are disclosed openly so that prospective buyers can assess the condition accurately before bidding.
The mount is part of the photograph's existing presentation and has been retained rather than replaced. A future owner could, of course, choose to have the photograph professionally remounted if a more pristine presentation were preferred.
The print and its original presentation should be appreciated as an authentic archival object, with characteristics reflecting its history and handling over the intervening decades.
Please examine all photographs carefully, particularly the detailed image showing the creases in the silver-coloured mount.
Provenance and Authenticity
The photograph comes directly from the Michael Joseph family archive.
The reverse retains archival markings and a Michael Joseph studio label, providing further context for its provenance.
Michael Joseph, perhaps best known for his iconic photographs for the Rolling Stones' Beggars Banquet album, was one of Britain's most imaginative advertising photographers, active from the 1960s through to the early 1990s.
His work combined meticulous technical expertise with theatrical composition, visual humour and an unmistakable sense of originality.
This print offers collectors something particularly special: not merely an example of one of his celebrated advertising images, but a glimpse into his own experimental darkroom practice.
A Rare Opportunity for Collectors
An original, hand-signed photographic print, personally produced and unusually blue-toned by Michael Joseph himself.
A celebrated image from an important British advertising campaign, presented in a distinctive and apparently unique darkroom interpretation.
Not a modern reproduction. Not a contemporary reprint. An original photographic object, created by the photographer's own hand.
Despite the disclosed creases in the silver-coloured mount, the photograph remains a particularly appealing piece of Michael Joseph's photographic history.
One image. One distinctive darkroom treatment. One surviving example in this particular size and colouration.
Offered directly from the photographer's family archive.
Dispatch: Carefully packed flat between rigid protective boards, with particular attention to protecting the photographic surface and existing mount. As always, this one-off historical piece will be prepared for its journey with great care and respect.
#MichaelJoseph #Nivea #NowInTubs #VintagePhotography #OriginalDarkroomPrint #SilverGelatinPhotography #BlueTonedPhotography #SignedPhotography #BritishAdvertising #AdvertisingPhotography #1980sPhotography #AnaloguePhotography #FineArtPhotography #PhotographicArchives #UniquePhotograph #PhotographyCollectors
Seller's Story
My father, Michael Joseph, was a London-based advertising photographer from the 1960s to the early 1990s, perhaps best known for his iconic photographs for the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet album.
Such was Michael’s extraordinary talent for orchestrating elaborate group scenes, often bringing together large numbers of people and animals in seemingly effortless harmony, that these wonderfully theatrical compositions became known within the advertising industry simply as “a Michael Joseph” - a style so distinctive that his name became a description in its own right.
Our continuing mission is to share what we affectionately call “the other photographs”: lesser-known treasures from his remarkable archive, including original vintage darkroom prints, experimental test prints, alternative images from major shoots, celebrated group compositions and more intimate, personal photographs.
Among our most exciting discoveries is Michael’s extraordinary 1964 Vietnam archive, photographed when he was just 23. Many of these powerful images have never previously been exhibited or offered for sale, revealing a fascinating, lesser-known side of his career.
There is also a wonderfully poetic quality to much of his work: unexpected encounters, fleeting moments and what we like to call “immortalised instants” - those unrepeatable fragments of everyday life that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
All beautifully summed up in Michael’s favourite adage:
“Always keep a camera handy, every minute of your living day.”
A philosophy he certainly lived by, leaving us an extraordinary collection that we are still discovering today.
Alongside Michael’s authentic vintage prints, we are introducing new interpretations of his work: striking photographic prints on aluminium and handmade cyanotypes, created from his original negatives and transparencies using the Dordogne sunshine. Some are produced on vintage papers from Michael’s own photographic library, giving these historic materials a wonderful new lease of life.
Together, these works celebrate photographic history and contemporary creativity - from unique prints made by Michael himself to imaginative new interpretations of his archive.
We hope you enjoy discovering these photographs as much as we enjoy bringing them to light!
A Small Note About the Presentation Photographs
Some of our in situ illustrations showing artworks displayed in interiors have been created using artificial intelligence (AI).
These are intended simply to help you imagine how a piece might look in a home, office or gallery. Although we aim for faithful representations, proportions and scale may occasionally vary.
Please refer to the actual artwork photographs and stated dimensions for an accurate representation of your purchase.
A Personal Note About Packaging
We prepare and pack every artwork ourselves, taking great care to protect each piece with several layers of suitable materials.
To keep costs down and minimise waste, we reuse and upcycle packaging wherever possible. Your parcel may therefore contain recycled cardboard, protective sleeves, old photographic boxes or envelopes - occasionally even materials from Michael’s own photographic library!
And please don't be surprised if the outside looks rather plain, or even a little unattractive. This is often deliberate! We prefer valuable or irreplaceable artworks to travel as inconspicuously as possible.
One small favour: please unwrap your parcel slowly and carefully.
We sometimes use several layers of cardboard, paper and protective wrapping, secured with tape. Please take particular care when using scissors or a blade, as tape can occasionally catch on adjoining layers or items inside.
We would rather spend a little extra time protecting your purchase than risk damage in transit, and hope you will forgive our occasionally unconventional packaging!
After all, it's what's inside that matters, not the wrapping!
Every purchase helps us preserve, explore and share Michael’s remarkable photographic archive, while giving these images a new home and another chapter in their history.
For US Buyers
Customs duties and applicable import charges are paid at source and included in the shipping cost. No additional charges should normally be payable upon delivery, subject to changes in customs regulations.
Details
Date of print
1985
Artist
Michael Joseph (1941-)
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Title of artwork
Nivea now in tubs - blue, authentic vintage darkroom print
Condition
Original State
Technique
Gelatin-silver print
Height
20 cm
Edition
Unique in this colour and size, with off-white mount
Width
15 cm
Signature
Hand signed
Genre
Nude
Sold by
