Nude in sheep, 1971 photo for the International Wool Foundation, unclothed shepherdess and her flock by Michael Joseph

Photographer: Michael Joseph
Photo taken: early 1970s

Image size:
Width: 500 mm
Height: 400 mm
(40 × 50 cm)

This iconic image was created as the centrepiece of the 1971 IWF Woman in Wool advertising campaign.

Nude in Sheep
Michael Joseph — photographed for the British Wool Society
Original C-type print on glossy paper, finished with an opulent black border
Signed in gold pen

At first glance: a sea of wool.
Then—suddenly—the unexpected flash of skin, symmetry, and surrealism.

In Nude in Sheep, Michael Joseph fuses pastoral calm with a bold artistic jolt. A nude figure lies serenely at the centre of the flock, as if conjured from the land itself—or smuggled into a dream. The composition is painterly, the geometry exact, and the humour unmistakably his.

This is Joseph at his most playful and provocative:
a knowing nod to Bruegel’s orchestrated chaos, Man Ray’s erotic wit, and Bill Brandt’s stark British surrealism. Joseph often said he could find a creative opportunity in almost every frame—and here, amid livestock and landscape, he staged something utterly unforgettable.

Photographed in the early 1970s and printed in a very small edition (this is one of just three), this striking signed print exemplifies the precision and intelligence of a photographer who mastered the balance between the strange and the sublime. Best known for his Beggars Banquet images of the Rolling Stones, Joseph moved effortlessly between fine art and commercial work, bringing an irreverence that became his signature.

The image is a feast of contrasts:
softness and starkness, herd instinct and individuality,
a whisper of rebellion wrapped inside a visual joke.

Dispatch:
Carefully packed with care and devotion and shipped via Colissimo, ensuring safe arrival.

Please browse my reviews to see the attention given to preserving and rehoming these one-off photographic artefacts.

A true talking point—and a rare, museum-worthy collectible from a master of visual mischief.

Further reference:
The Beggars Banquet Limited Edition Collection
Iconic Images – Michael Joseph