Josephine Baker captivates the Jazz Age

 

Josephine Baker in a flounced dress

 Josephine Baker wearing a flounced dress – 1930

 

 

 

Josephine brings her Va Va Voom to Paris

 

Josephine Baker was an integral part of the Jazz Age. Her irrepressible charm and panache was embraced immediately by Parisians when she arrived in Paris in 1925 as a 19 yo dancer, during the peak of the French obsession with American Jazz and all things exotic. The promotional tools of the print media, developed successfully in the Art Nouveau era, were ready for a star in the Jazz Age and Josephine delivered in spades with her  joie de vivre. She became the toast of the Paris cabaret clubs and headlined at the famous Folies Bergères known by names as the “Black Pearl,” “Bronze Venus” and even the “Creole Goddess” . She was a muse to numerous talented artists and her expressive, comedic, uninhibited performances made her a famous icon of the Jazz Age. Pablo Picasso said that Josephine had the smile to end all smiles.
During the 1950s, Baker frequently returned to the United States to lend support to the Civil Rights Movement, participating in demonstrations and boycotting segregated clubs and concert venues. While looking over the crowd at the 1963 March on Washington, Josephine stated “Salt and pepper. Just what it should be.”
She had to wait until 1973 in the United States before she was accepted for her boundless talent and activism. She was greeted with a standing ovation at the beginning of her performance at Carnegie Hall in New York, which reduced her to tears, as she stood six inches deep in the roses that were thrown on the stage.  Josephine Baker became the first black woman to achieve international stardom.

In her humble self assessment –

“I have never been a great artist. I have been a human being that has loved art, which is not the same thing. But I have loved and believed in art and the idea of universal brotherhood so much, that I have put everything I have into them, and I have been blessed.”

Stepanie-Farago-Josephine-Baker-Flirts

 Josephine Baker bust  – Stephanie Farago

 

Her natural flair for glamour and sophistication and her large collection of exotic animals was one of the contributing factors that made this a recurring theme in the Art Deco arts. She personified the exuberant abandon of the Jazz era and the spontaneous free expression and energy of her charismatic performances had an influence on the proliferation of dynamic, cubist designs in the Jazz Age art. Josephine’s chic, modern, confident style also helped to popularize this style in Art Deco, which she epitomized with her sleek and glamorous outfits. The Jazz Cleopatra, one of her many titles, became an embodiment of the Modernist art movement combining Primitivism, Expressionism and Cubism and her bronzed feminine form was immortalized in many of the bronze figurines created during this era. The great art deco poster designer, Paul Colin, did many amazing posters featuring Josephine with stylized form and cubist geometry.

The Jazz Age, which ran from the end of WW1 to the beginning of the Depression had an art form that was characterised by elongated silhouettes, clean angular lines and blocks of bold colour. Spontaneous movement was depicted with abstract cubist geometric designs and  zig zag lines, which also had an indirect reference to the two zz’s in Jazz.

Art pieces inspired by Josephine Baker and the Jazz Age

designer,-Enoch-Boulton-Carlton-Ware-1920's

Carlton Ware Jazz’ series vase, design by Enoch Boulton

© Terry Wise 2009

carltonwareworld.com

 

 

Josephine bBaker in satin dress

Josephine Baker

 

 

Jazz Age style Vase-aux-poissons -Mougin

 Aux Poissons vase  – Mougin

 

 

 

statuette-en-bronze-josephine-baker holding large fan -a-la-galerie-tramway-dr

Bronze statuette  Josephine Baker

 

 

 

Josephine Baker in one of her outrageous costumes

Josephine Baker

 

 

 

Noritake-Morimura-Green-Mark-Art-Deco-Mod-Jazz-Age-Handled-Lustre-Porcelain-Vase--o

Jazz Age porcelain vase -Morimura Noritake / Green Marks

 Jean-Dunand art deco screenLacquer Screen – Jean Dunand

 

 

 

allthatjazz Jazz Age Vogue cover

Jazz Age Vogue

 

 

 

Art-Deco-metalwork,-Chanin-Building,-New-York

Art Deco metalwork from the facade of the Chanin Building, NY

 

 

 

Josephine-Baker-at-the-Casino-de-Paris,-by-Luis-Ramon-Marin-1930s

Josephine Baker at the Casino de Paris

Photo – Luis Ramon Marin

1930s

 

 

Art-Pottery-Age-of-Jazz-Jug-from-the-Art-Deco-Era

Royal Art Pottery – Jazz Age Jug

Lillehammer Lane Antique Mall, UK

 

 

Bakerfix Hair Care Display-Josephine Baker Bust

Josephine Baker ” Bakerfix” Hair Brilliantine bust

 

 

 

Josephine-Baker---Princesse-Tam-Tam--1935----YouTube

Movie ‘Princesse Tam Tam’ – Josephine Baker

1935

 

 

 

Sahdji,-Aaron-Douglas Art Deco

‘Sahdji’ (Tribal Women) – Aaron Douglas, , 1925

Howard University Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

 

 

Josephine Baker cartoon from the german Magazine Ulk (1928)

Josephine Baker cartoon from the German Magazine Ulk – 1928

 

 

 

art-deco vase Edouard Cazaux

Edouard Cazaux, French Art Deco

 

 

buthaud-rene-1886-1986-france-nude-female

Art Deco panel – Rene Buthaud

 

 

catteau-charles-1880-1966-belg-la-danse-moderne-a-boch-freres-

‘Belg La Danse’ – Charles Catteau

 

 

JOSEPHINE BAKER in her show -'JOSEPHINE-BAKER-STORY'-IN-MONTE-CARLO-GAROFALO-Jack

Josephine Baker performing in her Monte Carlo show ” The Josephine Baker Story “

 Photo – Jack Garofalo

Getty Images

 

 

c-felton flickr Josephine and panther

Josephine and panther figurine – Haeger

c.Felton – flickr

 

 

 

Charles-Catteau-Jazz-Art Deco--vase

Jazz Age vase – Charles Catteau

 

 

Czech Art Deco-Karel Palda Geometric-TRI-Color-Enamel-Vase-1930s

Karel Palda – Geometric Czech Art Deco /Jazz Age vase

 

 

 

Dance Magazine Jazz Age cover

“The Dance” magazine Jazz Age cover

 

Winold-Reiss(1886ー1953)African-Fantasy--The-Awakening c 1925

‘African Fantasy–The Awakening’ – Winold-Reiss(1886ー1953)

c 1925

 

 

 

Sevres-1927.-Made-in-France.-1927.-Height 37cm Drouot.com

Large Sevres Jazz Age baluster vase – 1927, France

Height 37cm

Drouot.com

 

 

Erte-sculpture

Art Deco sculpture – Erte

 

 

Folies-Bergere theatre facade

 Folies Bergere, Paris

 

 

 

 

Franz Hagenauer Josephne Baker bust

Josephne Baker bust – Franz Hagenauer

 

 

French-Josephine-Baker-pin-with-arms

 French Josephine Baker brooch

 

 

erte-trois-femme-Erte--Sculpture

 Trois feminine – Erte

 

 

 

 

Giuseppe Armani - Statuettes Italy

Giuseppe Armani ceramic figurine

 

 

 

Hagenauer-Deco-Sculpture-of-1930s-Josephine-Baker

Josephine Baker scultpture by Karl Hagenauer

 

 

 

Jazz-age-cubist josephine baker poster

Cubist Jazz Age Josephine Baker poster

 

 

 

Danseuse aux Boules - Maurice and Marcel Denis, Max Le Verrier - Art Deco dancing woman figurine

Danseuse aux Boules – Maurice and Marcel Denis, Max Le Verrier

1925 –  1937

 

 

 

 

Josef-HERBE jazz age spherical ceramic vase

Spherical cubist jazz age vase – Josef Herbe

 

 

 

Josephine Baker, c1950 (Studio Harcourt).

Josephine Baker, c1950  Studio Harcourt, Paris

 

 

 

Dancer with borzoi by Abel R. Philippe

Dancer with Borzoi by Abel R. Philippe

Polyvore

 

Alexander-Calder---Un-Effet-Du-Japonais---Pace-Gallery

Alexander Calder – 1941

 

 

Josephine-Baker-by-Studio-Harcourt

Josephine Baker by Studio Harcourt

 

 

 

Josephine-Baker- dancing figure Karl Hagenauer

Bronze figurine of Josephine Baker – Karl Hagenauer

 

 

 

Josephine-Baker-Poster

Josephine Baker – Probably a Le Vie Parisienne illustration

 

 

 

Josephine-Baker-Cookie-Jar-Michael-and-Shelley-Buonaiuto

Josephine Baker cookie jar by Michael and Shelley Buonaiuto

 

 

Art Deco cubist-jazz-age-figures by Primavera

Jazz Age Cubist sculpture figurines by Prrimavera

1930

 

 

 

Pablo GARGALLO-Spain France-1881-1934-'Kiki-de

Kiki – Pablo Gargallo

 

 

 

Art Deco limogues vase

Vase Atelier Art Deco Faure Limoges 1925-1933

 

 

 

princess-tam-tam-josephine-baker

Josephine Baker art poster 1935

One of the many movies that Josephine Baker starred in.

 

 

 

Rene-Lalique---Francia---Dancers Plate

Dancers Plate – Rene lalique

1943

 

 

 

contemporary sculpture by Robert Cook-Harlem-1992

‘Harlem’ – Robert Cook

1992

 

 

 

JAZZ---featured-pattern-by-Carlton-Ware

Carlton Ware – ‘Jazz’– vase designed by Enoch Boulton, an expression of the  zeitgeist of the Jazz Age, 1930

© Harvey Pettit 2009

carltonwareworld.com

 

 

art deco style poster by Robert Hoppe

‘Acquacade’ – Robert Hoppe

 

 

 

Art Deco theatre with Josephine Baker and Louis Armstrong wall panels.

Jazz Age Art deco theatre with Josephine Baker and Louis Armstrong wall panels.

Pollaro Interiors,USA

 

 

 

Charles Catteau jazz age vessel

Charles Catteau

 

 

 

1920s art porcelain from Pickard

Art Deco/Jazz Age jug – Pickard

1920

 

 

 

1927,-Charles Catteau & Boch Frères Keramis.-Décors polychromes-de-motifs géométriques-–-émaux-mats

Charles Catteau & Boch Frères Keramis

1927

 

 

 

Folies Bergere,Paris with josephine Baker on stage

Josephine Baker at the Folies Bergere,Paris

1926

 

 

Jamaican hand painted pot

Jamaican Pottery vase

NooRotic- flickr

LUCITE-&-EBONY-Carved-Josephine-Baker brooch

Carved lucite and ebony abstract Josephine Baker brooch.

 

 

 

Poster-on-a-billboard,-for-Josephine-Baker's-review---'Paris-mes-amours',-to-the-Olympia.-Paris,-street-of-Sevres,-1959.-RV-167768

Josephine Baker billboard  –‘Paris mes amours’, at the Olympia. Paris

On the streets of Sevres, 1959

Roger Viollet – Getty Images

Getty Image 111074049-Josephine Baker with 3 oh her 12 adopted children

Josephine Baker with 3 of her 12 adopted children in 1964

Gamma Rapho – Getty Image 111074049

Lido-in-Paris,-December,-1973Photo-by-Michel-GINFRAYGamma-Rapho-via-Getty-Images

Joesphine Baker Diva Queen at the Lido in Paris, 1973

Photo by Michel Ginfray, GammaRapho – Getty Image

Niki De Saint Phalle - Josephine Baker sculpture Christies

Josephine Baker sculpture by Niki De Saint Phalle

Cowan Pottery Viktor Schreckengost---Jazz Bowl-An American Art Deco Icon

Jazz Bowl-An American Art Deco Icon designed by Cowan Pottery Viktor Schreckengost for Cowan Pottery

 

 

 

Josephine-Baker---Princesse-Tam-Tam--1935----YouTube5

Josephine Baker in the 1935 movie ‘Princesse Tam Tam’

 

 

Paul-Colin-Black-Thunder---The-review--Josephine-Baker--Lithograph

Black Thunder poster – Paul Colin

 

 

Josephine-Baker-Giuseppe-Armani realistic figurine

‘Josephine’  statuette – Giuseppe Armani

 

 

Josephine-Baker,-a-French-Art-Deco-Period-Painting-by-Emile-Compard,-1926

Art Deco painting with Josephine Baker by Emile Compard

1926

Ψ

 

 

“When You’re Smiling ( the whole world smiles with you )”  – a song off  Dr. John’s new album  “Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch”  and Josephine Baker with her sparkling smile outdazzling her outfits.

 

 

 

Josephine-Baker-in-costume

Josephine Baker – another elaborate costume

 

 

 

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1 Comment

  1. Stephen
    Posted October 27, 2014 at 7:04 am | Permalink

    Nice one Robbie-do you ever sleep mate?Regards Stephen

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