Michael Joseph (1941-) - Nivea now in tubs - frontal edition soft-brown toned authentic darkroom test print

“Nivea Nude, London ’80s”
Original darkroom print, in an upcycled goldy frame

A study in simplicity and strength - intimate, elegant, and unmistakably of its era.

This rare vintage print offers a quieter, more contemplative moment from a Nivea advertising commission in the 1980s.
Where the final published campaign chose a safer, more conventional pose, this earlier frame reveals something far more compelling:
a portrait of calm poise, unguarded beauty, and the gentle confidence of a woman entirely at ease in her own form.

The Composition
Soft, diffused light shapes the model’s figure with clarity and restraint.
A simple white cloth wraps gracefully around her hips — a minimal gesture that heightens the photograph’s sense of purity and poise.
Her posture is relaxed, almost serene, the tilt of her head giving the image a quiet introspection.
The clean, marble-like backdrop amplifies the sculptural quality of the pose, allowing the viewer to focus solely on line, light, and presence.

A Story Untold
In the final campaign image, the model faced away from the camera — a decision made to suit commercial expectations of the time.
This version, where she faces us, was left behind on the contact sheet.
Yet it is precisely this earlier moment that feels the most human:
a portrait that embraces honesty over perfection, presence over polish.

Framed in Grandeur
Presented in an ornate, gilded frame with baroque flourishes, width 38,5cms height 53cms.
The richness of this timeless mount contrasts beautifully with the photograph’s spare modernism —
a deliberate interplay that elevates the work and lends it a sense of timeless gravitas.

Why This Piece

A rare, unpublished alternative from a notable advertising commission.

An authentic piece from the photographer’s archive.

A striking artwork that celebrates natural grace and the quiet power of simplicity.

A conversation piece: sensitive, stylish, and evocative.

A moment reclaimed. A beauty redefined.
A distinctive addition to any collection of vintage fashion, advertising, or fine-art photography.

Bid now — and own the unseen.