Justine Joseph (1971-) - Pool Ladies Nattering by Michael Joseph, cyanotype

Pool Ladies – Nattering Original Handmade Cyanotype from Michael Joseph’s 1987 London Pool Ladies Series An extraordinary gathering of bathing beauties, a wonderfully theatrical composition, and a little touch of 1980s eccentricity - all immortalised in glorious shades of Prussian blue. This striking, one-of-a-kind cyanotype revisits an original photograph taken by celebrated London advertising photographer Michael Joseph in Clapham, London, in 1987. A group of swimming-capped ladies assemble at the poolside, their poses ranging from elegantly nonchalant to wonderfully peculiar. Some appear to be waiting for instructions, others lost in thought, while one particularly commanding figure seems to preside over the entire gathering. The result is a delightfully surreal tableau, somewhere between a fashion photograph, a theatrical production and a scene from an imaginary aquatic cabaret. There is something irresistibly nostalgic about the swimming costumes, rubber caps and goggles, but also something timeless about the composition. Every figure contributes to the visual story, inviting the viewer to linger, explore and invent a narrative of their own. A Photographic Reinterpretation, Almost Forty Years Later Originally photographed in 1987, this image has been brought back to life in the Dordogne, France, during the summer of 2026, by Michael Joseph’s daughter, Justine Joseph, using the historic cyanotype photographic process. Working directly from an original photographic negative, Justine has created an entirely new interpretation of her father’s work, transforming the original monochrome image into a richly atmospheric composition of deep blues, luminous highlights and velvety shadows. The cyanotype process, dating back to 1842, involves coating paper with light-sensitive chemicals and exposing the image to ultraviolet light before developing it in water. Unlike a conventional digital reproduction, each cyanotype is individually prepared, exposed, washed and dried by hand. The beautiful variations in tone, subtle irregularities and characteristic deckled edges are integral to the artwork, making every impression genuinely individual. No two handmade cyanotypes can ever be quite the same. A Meeting of Two Generations This piece represents a particularly personal dialogue between father and daughter, bridging nearly four decades of photographic creativity. Michael Joseph's remarkable career in London advertising photography, spanning the 1960s to the early 1990s, was distinguished by his elaborate compositions, imaginative staging and extraordinary ability to bring together large groups of people in a single, memorable image. Perhaps best known for his iconic photographs for the Rolling Stones' Beggars Banquet album, Michael also created an enormous archive of lesser-known images, many of which are only now being rediscovered. His favourite adage was: “Always keep a camera handy, every minute of your living day.” It is precisely these immortalised instants that his daughter now enjoys revisiting, giving forgotten photographic treasures an entirely new existence through traditional and experimental printing techniques. Presentation, Provenance & Authenticity Title: Pool Ladies Nattering Original photograph: Michael Joseph, Clapham, London, 1987 Artwork: Original handmade cyanotype by Justine Joseph Date of creation: Summer 2026, Dordogne, France Technique: Traditional cyanotype, produced from an original photographic negative Dimensions: 50 × 40 cm, landscape format, including mount Presentation: Beautifully mounted in an off-white window mount, with the characteristic irregular edges of the handmade print deliberately visible Signature: Justine Joseph's monogram on the front Verso: Handwritten title, photographic attribution, location, dates and production details, together with the gallery's authenticity label A Unique Piece of Photographic Art Perfect for collectors of vintage-inspired photography, lovers of unusual interiors, admirers of traditional photographic processes, or simply anyone with an appreciation for the wonderfully eccentric. Its rich blue tones lend themselves particularly beautifully to retro interiors, poolhouses, coastal homes and contemporary spaces. An original photograph from 1987, reimagined by the photographer's daughter in 2026 - a little piece of photographic history, with an entirely new life of its own. Offered directly from the Michael Joseph family archive.

Estimation:€400

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