Michael Joseph (1941-) - Sid James Leaning - with reflection
04
days
17
hours
14
minutes
31
seconds
Current bid
€ 3
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Elena Vaninetti
Has over ten years of experience in art, specialising in post-war photography and contemporary art.
Estimate € 500 - € 600
 | €3 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €2 | |
| €1 |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 144581 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Michael Joseph’s gelatin‑silver original darkroom print Sid James Leaning – with reflection, hand‑signed, vintage edition from 1975, 32.7 × 26 cm.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Sid James & His Reflection – A Delightfully Surreal Portrait by Michael Joseph
London, 1970s | Original Darkroom Print | Artist's Proof (A/P) | Hand-Signed by the Photographer
Two Sid Jameses for the price of one! A wonderfully eccentric, almost surreal portrait of one of Britain's most beloved comic actors, captured through the mischievous imagination of celebrated photographer Michael Joseph.
Few faces are more instantly recognisable to British audiences than that of Sid James, the irrepressible star of the legendary Carry On films. With his unmistakable gravelly laugh, roguish grin and larger-than-life personality, James became one of the defining figures of post-war British comedy.
Here, Michael Joseph presents him in a delightfully unconventional composition, playing with reflection, perspective and the illusion of doubling.
Dressed in a smart suit, bow tie and jaunty hat, James appears twice within the same composition, seemingly suspended in space. One figure leans at an improbable angle while his darker counterpart appears to stride confidently across the foreground.
The result is wonderfully disorientating: a playful photographic illusion in which the familiar comedian seems to encounter another version of himself.
Joseph's clever use of stark contrasts, unusual angles and theatrical positioning transforms a celebrity portrait into something far more intriguing - an image that is simultaneously humorous, graphic and faintly surreal.
The deep blacks, luminous highlights and beautifully exaggerated silhouettes lend the photograph an almost dreamlike quality, while James's unmistakable expression ensures that his personality remains firmly at the centre of the spectacle.
Michael Joseph – A Master of Photographic Theatre
Michael Joseph (born 1941) became internationally celebrated for his extraordinary ability to orchestrate elaborate photographic compositions, combining humour, theatricality and technical ingenuity.
His most famous work includes the iconic 1968 photographs of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album, in which a wonderfully eccentric gathering of characters and animals created one of rock photography's most memorable visual spectacles.
Whether directing a room full of extravagantly dressed characters, working with animals or photographing a single celebrated personality, Joseph possessed an instinctive ability to transform the unexpected into something visually unforgettable.
This unusual portrait of Sid James demonstrates that same imagination on a more intimate scale, using the illusion of a doubled figure to create a composition that is both technically intriguing and delightfully entertaining.
An Original Artist's Proof – Personally Produced in the Darkroom
This is an authentic darkroom print, personally produced by Michael Joseph using traditional photographic techniques.
Printed on ultra-thin Kodalith paper, the image possesses a distinctive graphic quality, with exceptionally strong contrasts between its rich dark tones and luminous highlights.
Offered as an Artist's Proof (A/P), it represents an individual example of Joseph's hands-on photographic practice, rather than a modern digital reproduction.
The photograph is presented in a pale mount, with the handwritten title Sid James, the date 1970s, and Michael Joseph's distinctive signature along the border.
These personal inscriptions provide a direct and tangible connection to the photographer and his remarkable archive.
Condition and Presentation
As a handmade darkroom print on exceptionally thin photographic paper, the work should be appreciated as an individual analogue object rather than a mass-produced contemporary reproduction.
The photograph is presented in a pale mount. Please examine the accompanying images carefully for its precise condition, including any minor signs of handling or irregularities associated with the photographic paper and mount.
Details
Photographer: Michael Joseph (1941–)
Subject: Sid James (1913–1976)
Title: Sid James – Reflection
Photographed: London, 1970s
Medium: Original darkroom photographic print on ultra-thin Kodalith paper
Edition: Artist's Proof (A/P)
Signature: Hand-signed, titled and dated by Michael Joseph on the border
Mount dimensions: 50 × 40 cm, portrait format
Presentation: Mounted, unframed, suitable for a standard-size frame
Provenance: From the photographic archive of Michael Joseph
A wonderfully entertaining meeting of two great British talents: Sid James, whose comic personality delighted generations, and Michael Joseph, whose extraordinary photographic imagination could turn even the simplest portrait into a theatrical adventure.
An unusual and highly characterful piece of British photographic and entertainment history - and a splendid opportunity to acquire an original, personally signed darkroom print of one of the nation's best-loved comedians.
Please note: Any AI-generated interior staging photographs are for illustrative purposes only, are not necessarily to scale, and do not imply that a frame is included.
#MichaelJoseph #SidJames #CarryOnFilms #BritishComedy #OriginalDarkroomPrint #ArtistsProof #HandSigned #Kodalith #VintagePhotography #BritishPhotography #SurrealPhotography #AnaloguePhotography #PhotographyCollectors #ClassicBritishCinema #FineArtPhotography
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.
Sid James & His Reflection – A Delightfully Surreal Portrait by Michael Joseph
London, 1970s | Original Darkroom Print | Artist's Proof (A/P) | Hand-Signed by the Photographer
Two Sid Jameses for the price of one! A wonderfully eccentric, almost surreal portrait of one of Britain's most beloved comic actors, captured through the mischievous imagination of celebrated photographer Michael Joseph.
Few faces are more instantly recognisable to British audiences than that of Sid James, the irrepressible star of the legendary Carry On films. With his unmistakable gravelly laugh, roguish grin and larger-than-life personality, James became one of the defining figures of post-war British comedy.
Here, Michael Joseph presents him in a delightfully unconventional composition, playing with reflection, perspective and the illusion of doubling.
Dressed in a smart suit, bow tie and jaunty hat, James appears twice within the same composition, seemingly suspended in space. One figure leans at an improbable angle while his darker counterpart appears to stride confidently across the foreground.
The result is wonderfully disorientating: a playful photographic illusion in which the familiar comedian seems to encounter another version of himself.
Joseph's clever use of stark contrasts, unusual angles and theatrical positioning transforms a celebrity portrait into something far more intriguing - an image that is simultaneously humorous, graphic and faintly surreal.
The deep blacks, luminous highlights and beautifully exaggerated silhouettes lend the photograph an almost dreamlike quality, while James's unmistakable expression ensures that his personality remains firmly at the centre of the spectacle.
Michael Joseph – A Master of Photographic Theatre
Michael Joseph (born 1941) became internationally celebrated for his extraordinary ability to orchestrate elaborate photographic compositions, combining humour, theatricality and technical ingenuity.
His most famous work includes the iconic 1968 photographs of The Rolling Stones for their Beggars Banquet album, in which a wonderfully eccentric gathering of characters and animals created one of rock photography's most memorable visual spectacles.
Whether directing a room full of extravagantly dressed characters, working with animals or photographing a single celebrated personality, Joseph possessed an instinctive ability to transform the unexpected into something visually unforgettable.
This unusual portrait of Sid James demonstrates that same imagination on a more intimate scale, using the illusion of a doubled figure to create a composition that is both technically intriguing and delightfully entertaining.
An Original Artist's Proof – Personally Produced in the Darkroom
This is an authentic darkroom print, personally produced by Michael Joseph using traditional photographic techniques.
Printed on ultra-thin Kodalith paper, the image possesses a distinctive graphic quality, with exceptionally strong contrasts between its rich dark tones and luminous highlights.
Offered as an Artist's Proof (A/P), it represents an individual example of Joseph's hands-on photographic practice, rather than a modern digital reproduction.
The photograph is presented in a pale mount, with the handwritten title Sid James, the date 1970s, and Michael Joseph's distinctive signature along the border.
These personal inscriptions provide a direct and tangible connection to the photographer and his remarkable archive.
Condition and Presentation
As a handmade darkroom print on exceptionally thin photographic paper, the work should be appreciated as an individual analogue object rather than a mass-produced contemporary reproduction.
The photograph is presented in a pale mount. Please examine the accompanying images carefully for its precise condition, including any minor signs of handling or irregularities associated with the photographic paper and mount.
Details
Photographer: Michael Joseph (1941–)
Subject: Sid James (1913–1976)
Title: Sid James – Reflection
Photographed: London, 1970s
Medium: Original darkroom photographic print on ultra-thin Kodalith paper
Edition: Artist's Proof (A/P)
Signature: Hand-signed, titled and dated by Michael Joseph on the border
Mount dimensions: 50 × 40 cm, portrait format
Presentation: Mounted, unframed, suitable for a standard-size frame
Provenance: From the photographic archive of Michael Joseph
A wonderfully entertaining meeting of two great British talents: Sid James, whose comic personality delighted generations, and Michael Joseph, whose extraordinary photographic imagination could turn even the simplest portrait into a theatrical adventure.
An unusual and highly characterful piece of British photographic and entertainment history - and a splendid opportunity to acquire an original, personally signed darkroom print of one of the nation's best-loved comedians.
Please note: Any AI-generated interior staging photographs are for illustrative purposes only, are not necessarily to scale, and do not imply that a frame is included.
#MichaelJoseph #SidJames #CarryOnFilms #BritishComedy #OriginalDarkroomPrint #ArtistsProof #HandSigned #Kodalith #VintagePhotography #BritishPhotography #SurrealPhotography #AnaloguePhotography #PhotographyCollectors #ClassicBritishCinema #FineArtPhotography
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
1975
Artist
Michael Joseph (1941-)
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Title of artwork
Sid James Leaning - with reflection
Condition
Very fine
Technique
Gelatin-silver print
Height
32.7 cm
Edition
Vintage Darkroom print, Hand-Signed
Width
26 cm
Signature
Hand signed
Genre
Fine art photography
Sold by
