#la baker

Depicting Josephine Baker being presented a flower bouquet by a cheetah.

Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg. "I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents. And much more. But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee, and that made me mad. And when I get mad, you know that I open my big mouth. And then look out, 'cause when Josephine opens her mouth, they hear it all over the world ..." – Josephine Baker

Lois Mailou Jones "La Baker" 1977 Acrylic and collage on canvas

The photo session dates from 1936 and was taken in New York to promote Bakers appearance in the Ziegfeld Follies - the first and last black star ever to do so. Josephine appeared in three segments, dancing and then singing. This photo illustrates the third segment of her appearance where she performed the song “Five a.m.” by Vernon Duke and Ira Gershwin and was choreographed by Georges Balanchine. The outfits were designed by Vincent Minelli, and this dress was gold in colour. Baker is depicted here with her dancers in the “Five a.m.” segment. (ref p100 Josephine Baker, by Hammond & O’Connor 1988 and p168 Jazz Cleopatra by Phyllis Rose). 

1927 George Hoyningen-Huene, Josephine Baker, Vanity Fair

Josephine Baker wearing her famous Banana costume by Paul Collin, Tafel aus Le Tumulte noir, Pochoir and Lithografie. 1927.

Jean Dunand, Josephine Baker. Art Deco. 1927.