No. 98742983

Michael Joseph (1941-) - Ready to dive - authentic darkroom print from original 10 x 8 negative, signed in silver on black
No. 98742983

Michael Joseph (1941-) - Ready to dive - authentic darkroom print from original 10 x 8 negative, signed in silver on black
Pool Ladies Ready to Dive – Michael Joseph Darkroom Original (1987)
Signed vintage darkroom print – framed | approx. 36 cm by 30 cm
From the same iconic “Pool Ladies” series, this striking image - “Ready to Dive” - shows Michael Joseph’s perfect command of rhythm, light, and sensual poise. Shot in London in 1987, this work was conceived when Playboy TV USA came to interview him, and my father, ever the showman, decided to create a playful poolside tableau as a nod to their visit.
Here, the mood shifts again. The women lean back in perfect sync, goggles glinting, bodies gleaming under soft light - captured in that breathless pause before the dive. It’s pure theatre, yet effortless: a celebration of form, trust, and humour.
In contrast to the infamous Rolling Stones banquet with its riotous energy and decadent chaos, this image exudes order and calm - an elegant discipline, sensual but never explicit, confident yet serene.
Hand-printed and signed by Michael Joseph in his London darkroom, this piece reveals his technical mastery: the composition creating depth and a sculptural play of light across the figures. Housed in an upcycled burnished copper frame, to add a sense of timelessness, the print carries his handwritten title and authentication verso.
A rare and powerful example of Michael Joseph’s later work - one that embodies both his cinematic imagination and his wry sense of fun.
Lovingly packaged and dispatched as rapidly as possible.
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