Michael Joseph (1941-) - Nivea Now in tubs resting, authentic vintage Kodalith darkroom print in frame
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Description from the seller
Michael Joseph – Nivea Nude (Kodalith Study) – c.1985
Unique artist-made darkroom print on ultra-thin Kodalith paper
Signed and titled by the artist on the mount
Housed in an upcycled hand-finished vintage frame
This is not a photograph that merely shows a body—it’s one that breathes. Printed on whisper-thin Kodalith paper, the image carries a translucence and fragility that feel almost exhaled rather than developed. The figure—half shadow, half apparition—leans into the light with a quiet resolve, her form suspended between sculpture and smoke. Grain becomes texture; contrast becomes contour. What remains is an impression, intimate and elemental.
Where silver gelatin offers depth, Kodalith offers radiance: stark browns, milky whites, and a tonal austerity that lends the work an ethereal, near-surreal tenderness. This is Joseph working experimentally, in his own darkroom, pushing materials to their limits. Only one print exists in this form—a solitary object born of process, accident, intuition, and craft.
The artist’s handwritten title and signature arc along the mount, grounding the piece in his unmistakable hand. It is not a studio product but a personal artefact—made, touched, and released by Joseph himself.
The frame, with its sculpted wooden moulding and soft burnished patina, adds a further layer of character: tactile, timeworn, quietly dignified. It holds the fragile Kodalith sheet like a reliquary, offering contrast between the weight of wood and the weightlessness of the image.
About the Artist
Michael Joseph (b. 1941) is celebrated for his iconic 1968 group portraits of the Rolling Stones for Beggars Banquet, but his artistic reach stretches far beyond rock ’n’ roll history. With over 3,500 commercial commissions and decades of darkroom experimentation, Joseph’s fine art work reveals a photographer with a sculptor’s sense of form and a poet’s attention to human nuance. His photographs are held in private collections worldwide and have been exhibited internationally.
Details
Year: c.1985 (photo taken in the early 1980s)
Medium: Unique darkroom print on ultra-thin Kodalith paper
Print type: One-off, artist-printed
Dimensions (framed): 38cm high by 32cm wide
Signature: Signed and titled by Michael Joseph on the mount
Provenance: From the artist’s personal archive
Frame: Original hand-finished wooden frame with textured relief
Seller's Story
My father, Michael Joseph, was an advertising photographer based in London from the mid-sixties to the early nineties. During that time, he created some truly remarkable work — his most famous moment being the Beggars Banquet gatefold for the Rolling Stones.
My ongoing mission is to share and celebrate what we call 'the other photos' — the lesser-known but equally captivating pieces from his archive. Within this collection, you'll find a mix of test prints, images from specific photo shoots, and more personal works, all created with his characteristic passion and devotion.
Many of these images owe their atmosphere to the magic of the darkroom: intricate group scenes, striking still lifes, and moments that draw the viewer in and stir emotion. Variety is key - and I often offer unique, one-off pieces.
I hope you enjoy discovering my father’s work, and I look forward to sending you a genuine piece of photographic history.
Translated by Google TranslateMichael Joseph – Nivea Nude (Kodalith Study) – c.1985
Unique artist-made darkroom print on ultra-thin Kodalith paper
Signed and titled by the artist on the mount
Housed in an upcycled hand-finished vintage frame
This is not a photograph that merely shows a body—it’s one that breathes. Printed on whisper-thin Kodalith paper, the image carries a translucence and fragility that feel almost exhaled rather than developed. The figure—half shadow, half apparition—leans into the light with a quiet resolve, her form suspended between sculpture and smoke. Grain becomes texture; contrast becomes contour. What remains is an impression, intimate and elemental.
Where silver gelatin offers depth, Kodalith offers radiance: stark browns, milky whites, and a tonal austerity that lends the work an ethereal, near-surreal tenderness. This is Joseph working experimentally, in his own darkroom, pushing materials to their limits. Only one print exists in this form—a solitary object born of process, accident, intuition, and craft.
The artist’s handwritten title and signature arc along the mount, grounding the piece in his unmistakable hand. It is not a studio product but a personal artefact—made, touched, and released by Joseph himself.
The frame, with its sculpted wooden moulding and soft burnished patina, adds a further layer of character: tactile, timeworn, quietly dignified. It holds the fragile Kodalith sheet like a reliquary, offering contrast between the weight of wood and the weightlessness of the image.
About the Artist
Michael Joseph (b. 1941) is celebrated for his iconic 1968 group portraits of the Rolling Stones for Beggars Banquet, but his artistic reach stretches far beyond rock ’n’ roll history. With over 3,500 commercial commissions and decades of darkroom experimentation, Joseph’s fine art work reveals a photographer with a sculptor’s sense of form and a poet’s attention to human nuance. His photographs are held in private collections worldwide and have been exhibited internationally.
Details
Year: c.1985 (photo taken in the early 1980s)
Medium: Unique darkroom print on ultra-thin Kodalith paper
Print type: One-off, artist-printed
Dimensions (framed): 38cm high by 32cm wide
Signature: Signed and titled by Michael Joseph on the mount
Provenance: From the artist’s personal archive
Frame: Original hand-finished wooden frame with textured relief
Seller's Story
My father, Michael Joseph, was an advertising photographer based in London from the mid-sixties to the early nineties. During that time, he created some truly remarkable work — his most famous moment being the Beggars Banquet gatefold for the Rolling Stones.
My ongoing mission is to share and celebrate what we call 'the other photos' — the lesser-known but equally captivating pieces from his archive. Within this collection, you'll find a mix of test prints, images from specific photo shoots, and more personal works, all created with his characteristic passion and devotion.
Many of these images owe their atmosphere to the magic of the darkroom: intricate group scenes, striking still lifes, and moments that draw the viewer in and stir emotion. Variety is key - and I often offer unique, one-off pieces.
I hope you enjoy discovering my father’s work, and I look forward to sending you a genuine piece of photographic history.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Date of print
1984
Artist
Michael Joseph (1941-)
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Title of artwork
Nivea Now in tubs resting, authentic vintage Kodalith darkroom print in frame
Condition
Original State
Technique
Gelatin-silver print
Height
38 cm
Edition
Unique darkroom edition
Width
32 cm
Signature
Hand signed
Genre
Nude
Sold by
