ICONIC AND IMPORTANT JAZZ AGE POSTER FOR JOSEPHINE BAKER'S "LA REVUE NÉGRE" IN PARIS

Italo Orsi (1889-1947), designer

Théâtre de l'Étoile LA REVUE NÉGRE 

Lithograph on paper

Paris

PHOGOR, g2 r. d'Amsterdam

1925

 Mounted to 64 7/8 x 49 1/4 inches 

An iconic and significant poster from Josephine Baker's first performance in France, La Revue Négre. The revue opened on 2 October 1925 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées to a sold-out crowd. Featuring jazz, innovative dance choreography, and erotic burlesque, Josephine Baker was the star of the show, titillating the French public.

The dynamic design highlighted the sensual exoticism that was so alluring. Négrophilie (negrophilia) was already widespread, especially among the Surrealists and other art movements, who admired and fetishized Black art and culture.  

This poster dates from when the show moved just a few blocks away to the Théâtre d'Étoile in November 1925. It ran through the end of the year and then saw significant reorganization before it toured Europe in 1926.

The revue is widely credited with introducing and widely diffusing Black culture and jazz music to a wide European audience. 

VERY RARE. While frequently reproduced, original 1925 copies remain very scarce. We found only 1 copy of this design to have sold at auction. 

[African Americana, Black history, Posters, Ephemera, Jazz] 

Very fine. Professionally mounted. Complete condition report available upon request.