The first image that pops into your head when you think of Josephine Baker is probably of the Jazz Age performer dancing in a barely there skirt made of faux bananas—it is, after all, one of the most enduring images of the Roaring ’20s. But there is so much more to Baker’s life story that it’s hard to think of anyone more overdue for the proper biopic treatment. (Two separate projects about her were announced in 2022—fingers crossed those come to fruition soon.) The iconic performer, who was born into poverty in St. Louis in 1906, got her professional start as a teenager in the vaudeville circuit and went on to pack in enough experiences to fill several lifetimes before her death in 1975. To name just a few highlights: She found immense fame in France, spied for the Resistance, bought a castle, adopted 12 children, spoke at the March on Washington, and was a muse for Alexander Calder, Le Corbusier, Paul Colin, Matisse, and Adolf Loos.
Though she had quite the successful public career, you could also say that Baker relished domesticity. She surrounded herself with gardens, pets, and her children, spending much of her time and money transforming a dilapidated estate into a lavish home and tourist destination (more on that last part later). Below, we’ve rounded up photos of Baker’s offstage life.
