Robert Brady (American, 1928–1986; permanent resident of Mexico, from 1961)
Cuernavaca, Mexico
Josephine Baker
INV-5130
Robert Brady (American, 1928–1986; permanent resident of Mexico, from 1961)
Cuernavaca, Mexico1974
Josephine Baker
Robert Brady (American, 1928–1986; permanent resident of Mexico, from 1961) Cuernavaca, Mexico →weaving - tapestrytextile
Date
1974
Medium
Wool and cotton; tapestry weave
Dimensions
199.7 × 121.3 cm (78 5/8 × 47 3/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John V. Farwell III
The entertainer and activist Josephine Baker, an American expatriate celebrated for her riveting and commanding dance performances, rose to fame in 1920s Paris. In this tapestry, her friend, the artist Robert Brady, depicts Baker in a dynamic pose, wearing her famous banana skirt (which she debuted in 1926). The juxtaposition of the black, dark blue, and white background with the brown of Baker's lithe body and the yellow of her banana skirt dramatically captures the energy and iconoclasm of her vivid performances.