Michael Joseph (1941-) - Before the Plunge: Pool Ladies Contact Sheet Unique Composition

Poolside Sequence – Contact Sheet Composition
Photos taken in the 1980s; these particular components printed in 2024
Unique framed collage, made in the Dordogne
Inspired by Michael’s iconic Nivea presentation pieces

A choreography of bodies at the water’s edge.

This striking and highly unusual framed composition centres on a dramatic poolside diving study — swimmers poised in sculptural unison, toes gripping the brink, torsos angled forward, breath suspended in that electric second before release. Light traces the architecture of muscle and form, rendering the figures almost classical in their geometry — strength and symmetry held in perfect tension.

Encircling the central image is a border of contact sheet extracts: fragments of preparation, undressing, adjustment, rehearsal. A hand adjusting a strap. A subtle shift in stance. A figure half-turned in anticipation. These sequential studies form a cinematic rhythm around the still centre, transforming working material into something lyrical. We are invited not simply to witness the dive, but to inhabit the ritual before it — the quiet theatre of readiness.

The composition was assembled in the Dordogne by the photographer’s daughter as an act of respect and continuation — a response to her father’s practice and pace. It draws inspiration from Michael’s celebrated Nivea presentation works, those constructed photographic objects that elevated contact material into exhibition statements. Here, the contact sheet becomes both frame and narrative device — documentary and design held in balance.

Presented in a copper-coloured wooden frame, its warm metallic tone glows against the cool blue-grey palette of the imagery, subtly echoing an Art Deco sensibility. The frame is upcycled and fitted with glass that lived for nearly fifty years in the photographer’s French home — a quiet continuity of place embedded within the work itself.

The reverse is equally compelling. The back is dressed with a Christie’s poster, signed by Michael and dedicated “to Chris,” adding a further personal and historical layer to the piece. This detail transforms the object into something doubly intimate — not only a homage assembled by his daughter, but a work carrying his own hand and inscription.

This is not merely a photograph. It is a constructed homage — created by Justine, the photographer’s daughter, inspired by the memory of her father moving from one commission to the next before having the chance to fully present the last. A work about momentum, legacy, and the beauty of unfinished conversations between images.

Pieces incorporating contact sheet fragments in such a deliberate and decorative arrangement are seldom encountered. This remains a true one-off.

Condition:
Presented in vintage condition consistent with age. Minor wear to frame edges commensurate with handling. The reverse, including the signed Christie’s poster, is shown in photographs.

Frame Dimensions:
65cm high x 50cm wide

A rare opportunity to acquire a singular historical photographic composition — assembled with reverence, memory, and care.

This particularly unique item is sold in its frame with original aged glass and will be wrapped and sent with the respect such pieces deserve. As always, I pack and dispatch with great attention and devotion to ensure safe and thoughtful arrival.

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