Michael Joseph (1941-) - Jacuzzi James - scintillating silhouette in Clapham pool

“Jacuzzi James” — Original Photograph by Michael Joseph
London, 1990 — Signed by the photographer

A striking departure from the exuberant, densely choreographed group scenes Michael Joseph is so well known for, Jacuzzi James offers something altogether different: quiet intensity, sculptural beauty, and the power of a single figure completely commanding the frame.

Where Joseph’s rowdy banquet tableaux and surreal ensemble portraits burst with characters and chaos, this image distils his eye for drama into one poised, cinematic moment. The figure emerges from mist and reflected light, his body framed by tropical foliage and the curve of the jacuzzi, every surface beading with water and illuminated with Joseph’s signature precision.

The result is both sensuous and disciplined — a portrait that feels at once timeless and unmistakably of its era. Shot in London in 1990, the image shows Joseph’s mastery of contrast, form and atmosphere, revealing how compelling his work can be when the energy of his scenes collapses down to the stillness of a single subject.

This print is signed by Michael Joseph and titled in his hand along the lower margin. A striking collector’s piece from one of Britain’s most distinctive and playful image-makers.

As with all pieces I sell, it will be packaged with great care and devotion, honouring both the history of the work and the craftsmanship behind it.