No. 105207699

Sold
Justine Joseph (1971-) - Nude in Sheep, unique small panoramic cyanotype
Final bid
€ 48
No reserve price
10 weeks ago

Justine Joseph (1971-) - Nude in Sheep, unique small panoramic cyanotype

Little Blue Peep - Nude in Sheep Unique Cyanotype by Justine Joseph, from an original negative, after a photograph by Michael Joseph Original photograph taken in the 1970s At first glance: a tide of fleece. Then, almost imperceptibly, a flash of bare skin. A solitary nude stands serenely amongst an endless flock, as though quietly concealed by nature itself - or mischievously planted there for those patient enough to look twice. Created from one of Michael Joseph's original photographs of the 1970s, Little Blue Peep has been reimagined as a unique hand-made cyanotype, transforming the original image into something entirely new. The rich Prussian blues, velvety shadows and painterly chemistry create an image that feels as though it has emerged from memory rather than from a negative. No attempt has been made to tame the wonderfully unpredictable nature of the cyanotype process. Instead, its chemical blooms, mottled borders, uneven coating, softly washed transitions, delicate streaks, tiny speckles, and beautifully irregular textures have all been deliberately preserved. These imperfections are not flaws but fingerprints of the sun, water and chemistry - each one impossible to recreate, each one recording the exact conditions of the day on which the print was born. This is therefore not a reproduction, but a genuinely one-of-a-kind artwork. Every cyanotype is inherently unrepeatable: exposure to sunlight, humidity, hand-coating, rinsing and oxidation all collaborate to produce an image that can never exist in precisely the same way again. Chance itself becomes a co-artist. The work is presented in a beautifully upcycled vintage wooden frame, whose own history has been embraced rather than erased. Its expressive paint splatters, weathered surface and signs of a previous life complement the cyanotype's handmade character, reinforcing the philosophy of giving forgotten objects - and forgotten photographs - a second life. The reverse even incorporates part of the original photographic negative, allowing collectors a fascinating glimpse into the creative journey behind the finished piece. Michael Joseph delighted in visual puzzles and gentle provocation. Here, his mischievous humour remains entirely intact: the eye first registers only sheep before gradually discovering the unexpected human figure hidden amongst them. It is an image that rewards patience, curiosity and repeated viewing, balancing pastoral tranquillity with quiet absurdity. Echoes of Bruegel's teeming compositions, Man Ray's surreal elegance and Bill Brandt's poetic nudes gently resonate throughout the scene, yet the image remains unmistakably Michael Joseph - playful, perceptive and delightfully irreverent. This singular cyanotype is both an homage to the original photograph and an original artwork in its own right: a meeting of two generations, where a father's negative and a daughter's fascination with nineteenth-century photographic chemistry converge to create something that exists nowhere else. A compelling conversation piece for collectors of photography, cyanotypes, surrealism and British visual storytelling. #LittleBluePeep #NudeInSheep #MichaelJoseph #JustineJoseph #Cyanotype #OneOfAKind #UniqueArtwork #AlternativePhotography #PrussianBlue #HandCoated #UpcycledFrame #PhotographyCollectors #SurrealPhotography #BritishPhotography #VisualStorytelling

No. 105207699

Sold
Justine Joseph (1971-) - Nude in Sheep, unique small panoramic cyanotype

Justine Joseph (1971-) - Nude in Sheep, unique small panoramic cyanotype

Little Blue Peep - Nude in Sheep
Unique Cyanotype by Justine Joseph, from an original negative, after a photograph by Michael Joseph

Original photograph taken in the 1970s

At first glance: a tide of fleece.

Then, almost imperceptibly, a flash of bare skin.

A solitary nude stands serenely amongst an endless flock, as though quietly concealed by nature itself - or mischievously planted there for those patient enough to look twice.

Created from one of Michael Joseph's original photographs of the 1970s, Little Blue Peep has been reimagined as a unique hand-made cyanotype, transforming the original image into something entirely new. The rich Prussian blues, velvety shadows and painterly chemistry create an image that feels as though it has emerged from memory rather than from a negative.

No attempt has been made to tame the wonderfully unpredictable nature of the cyanotype process. Instead, its chemical blooms, mottled borders, uneven coating, softly washed transitions, delicate streaks, tiny speckles, and beautifully irregular textures have all been deliberately preserved. These imperfections are not flaws but fingerprints of the sun, water and chemistry - each one impossible to recreate, each one recording the exact conditions of the day on which the print was born.

This is therefore not a reproduction, but a genuinely one-of-a-kind artwork. Every cyanotype is inherently unrepeatable: exposure to sunlight, humidity, hand-coating, rinsing and oxidation all collaborate to produce an image that can never exist in precisely the same way again. Chance itself becomes a co-artist.

The work is presented in a beautifully upcycled vintage wooden frame, whose own history has been embraced rather than erased. Its expressive paint splatters, weathered surface and signs of a previous life complement the cyanotype's handmade character, reinforcing the philosophy of giving forgotten objects - and forgotten photographs - a second life. The reverse even incorporates part of the original photographic negative, allowing collectors a fascinating glimpse into the creative journey behind the finished piece.

Michael Joseph delighted in visual puzzles and gentle provocation. Here, his mischievous humour remains entirely intact: the eye first registers only sheep before gradually discovering the unexpected human figure hidden amongst them. It is an image that rewards patience, curiosity and repeated viewing, balancing pastoral tranquillity with quiet absurdity.

Echoes of Bruegel's teeming compositions, Man Ray's surreal elegance and Bill Brandt's poetic nudes gently resonate throughout the scene, yet the image remains unmistakably Michael Joseph - playful, perceptive and delightfully irreverent.

This singular cyanotype is both an homage to the original photograph and an original artwork in its own right: a meeting of two generations, where a father's negative and a daughter's fascination with nineteenth-century photographic chemistry converge to create something that exists nowhere else.

A compelling conversation piece for collectors of photography, cyanotypes, surrealism and British visual storytelling.

#LittleBluePeep #NudeInSheep #MichaelJoseph #JustineJoseph #Cyanotype #OneOfAKind #UniqueArtwork #AlternativePhotography #PrussianBlue #HandCoated #UpcycledFrame #PhotographyCollectors #SurrealPhotography #BritishPhotography #VisualStorytelling

Final bid
€ 48
No reserve price
Kai Brückner
Expert
Estimate € 800 - € 900

Similar objects

  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​

For you in

写真

  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
  • ​
    ​
    ​
Set a search alert
Set a search alert to get notified when new matches are available.

This object was featured in

                                        
                                                                                                    
                    
                                        
                                                                                                    
                    
                                        
                                                                                                    
                    
                                        
                                                                                                    
                    

How to buy on Catawiki

Learn more about our Buyer Protection

      1. Discover something special

      Browse through thousands of special objects selected by experts. View the photos, details and estimated value of each special object. 

      2. Place the top bid

      Find something you love and place the top bid. You can follow the auction to the end or let our system do the bidding for you. All you have to do is set a bid for the maximum amount you want to pay. 

      3. Make a secure payment

      Pay for your special object and we’ll keep your payment secure until it arrives safe and sound. We use a trusted payment system to handle all transactions. 

Have something similar to sell?

Whether you're new to online auctions or sell professionally, we can help you earn more for your special objects.

Sell your object