Poster, Joséphine Baker at the Folies Bergère 

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A poster advertising Joséphine Baker’s performance at the Folies Bergère in Un Vent de Folie (A Wind of Madness) from the mid-1920s.

Joséphine Baker, an American-born French singer, dancer, and actress, was one of the most celebrated performers to headline revues at the Folies Bergère, a renowned cabaret music hall in Paris. The Folies Bergère revues typically featured extravagant costumes, elaborate sets, special effects, and often partially nude performers.

The prominent illustration of Baker on the poster shows her scantily clad, upside-down, and seemingly in motion. Next to the drawing is the illustrator’s signature, Ranson.