We first introduced you to Josephine Baker back in 2003, but since our minds are in Paris this week as Retromobile attracts huge numbers of enthusiasts to wander the halls of Parc des expositions de la Porte de Versailles and indulge their passion, let's re-make her acquaintance.Paris is just as famous for its night life and in 1925 Josephine Baker had her first job to appear in La Revue Negre. Her next significant job was at the Folies Bergere where she was a member of their all-black revue and it was there she first performed her famous Banana Dance which helped her quickly become the topless, banana-skirted toast of Paris, doing what she could to increase her notoriety hovering somewhere between scandal and sensation. (See a vignette of her in the wonderful animated film ‘Belleville Rendezvous ‘ HERE.) In 1961, Josephine was awarded the Legion of Honour, France's highest award.
The picture shows her at the summer concours, her clinging white dress contrasting perfectly with her dark skin and the black and white Delage D-6 convertible. Pablo Picasso said of her: "Tall, coffee skin, ebony eyes, legs of paradise, a smile to end all smiles.".
Georges Simenon the Belgian author and inventor of Inspector "Maigret" had a short relationship with Josephine in 1925. He couldn't stand it, however, that she was more in the spotlight then him, and called himself "Mr. Josephine".
When Retromobile closes its doors for the night and our friends all start to explore Paris by night, if you think you see a vision of beauty trotting down The Avenue des Champs-Élysées in a cart being pulled by an Ostrich then you can say you have seen Josephine Baker.
(Text and pictures Robin Batchelor)