Blogfinger

The New Yorker. Josephine Baker

By Paul Goldfinger, photography editor @Blogfinger.net

The photojournalist Lucien Aigner was born in Hungary.  He moved to Paris where he worked with some of the pioneer Leica-toting photographers such as Robert Capa. When WWII happened, he escaped to America where he continued his work.  He spent his last days organizing over 100,000 of his negatives.

I have been a Leica photographer most of my life, including now when I work with a Leica digital, the M-9.   But I still spend time scanning negatives for digital files to create prints and to post on Blogfinger.

Josephine Baker was an American singer who moved to France where she was a sensation. She liked to perform in abbreviated costumes including one where she wore a very short skirt made of bananas.  She was famous in Europe, but less so in the US.

Baker was active in the US civil rights movement; she would never perform in front of segregated audiences. During WWII, she assisted the French Resistance, and DeGaulle personally gave her their highest honor.

Her biggest hit was “I Have Two Loves”  (“J’ai deux amours”)  which we have played on Blogfinger in the past.  (see below). The title suggests “une situation  dangereaux.”

Below is not a Blogfinger photo, although we once visited the Follies Bergère.

JOSEPHINE BAKER:  Click once on the poster below.

Josephine Baker 1930.