Nude shepherdess with her sheep, out-take – cyanotype on Michael Joseph archival photographic paper

THE NUDE SHEPHERDESS WITH HER SHEEP

Unique cyanotype created from an original negative by Michael Joseph

Original photograph: London, 1974
Hand-printed in the Dordogne by Justine Joseph, June 2026

Created from one of Michael Joseph’s original negatives, this unique cyanotype revisits one of his most unusual advertising compositions: a nude shepherdess appearing amidst a multitude of sheep.

In this variation of the original shoot, the mass of animals fills almost the entire image. Bodies and fleeces overlap to create a rich, graphic texture, while the female figure emerges more discreetly from the heart of the composition.

The cyanotype process heightens the almost surreal quality of the image. Deep Prussian blues and luminous whites transform the sheep into an intricate interplay of shapes and textures, somewhere between figurative photography and abstraction.

The handcrafted cyanotype process allows sunlight, chemistry and chance to reinterpret the original negative. Variations in density, texture and tone are unique to each exposure, making this print a truly one-of-a-kind work.

This piece brings together the photographic vision of Michael Joseph and the contemporary hand-printing of Justine Joseph, who revisits original negatives from the family archive using one of photography’s oldest processes.

An original piece for collectors of photography, alternative photographic processes and unique works of art.

Discover more from the Michael Joseph Revisitations – Cyanotypes collection.

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