| 11 April 2025 Josephine Baker in Linz, Austria: A Star Revisited through the Lens of Photography  A New Look at an IconFrom April 11 to September 7, 2025, the Francisco Carolinum Linz, a museum for photography and media art, is dedicating a major exhibition to the legendary Josephine Baker, titled "Josephine Baker. Idol Icon Inspiration." The show aims to trace Baker's rise from impoverished beginnings to global fame, with a focus on her iconic public persona and her influence on visual culture. The exhibition is curated by Mona Horncastle, an art historian based in Munich and Berlin. Horncastle holds a PhD in art history and has a long track record of educational and curatorial work with leading museums across Germany. She is the author of "Josephine Baker. Weltstar. Freiheitskämpferin. Ikone" (Molden Verlag, 2020), and this isn't her first project on Baker: she co-curated "Icon in Motion" at the Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin (2024) and "Freiheit, Gleichheit, Menschlichkeit" at the Bundeskunsthalle Bonn (2023). Her sustained engagement with Baker's legacy brings depth to the Linz exhibition.Fashion and Fame: Without the DressesFashion.at has not yet visited the exhibition—its opening was just yesterday—but was in contact by phone with representatives from the museum for additional insights. According to the museum, no actual garments or stage costumes belonging to Josephine Baker are on display as objects. This may come as a surprise, given Baker's association with haute couture and designers such as Jean Patou and Paul Poiret. However, the show includes numerous photographs of the performer in designer gowns, Fashion.at was told on the phone.Many of these images are part of the collection of OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH, the regional cultural institution behind the exhibition. In particular, the portraits of Viennese photographer Madame d'Ora (Dora Kallmus) are central to the exhibition. Madame d'Ora photographed Baker in couture, including a remarkable image of her in a red tulle Patou gown published in Die Dame magazine in 1927. One such photo was previously shared by Mona Horncastle herself on Instagram in 2022, showcasing Baker as both model and muse. Vienna, 1928: Baker's Performance Sparks Parliamentary DebateJosephine Baker's Vienna debut on March 1, 1928, proved a significant and controversial moment highlighted in the exhibition. Initially booked at the Ronacher Theater, nationalist opposition forced a last-minute relocation to the Johann-Strauß-Theater. This incident, which even reached the Austrian Parliament, underscored the era's racial and cultural tensions and the disruptive impact of Baker's persona. Although some press accounts inaccurately portray this as the beginning of her first world tour (as she had already toured internationally), the Vienna performance remains a widely recognized turning point in her burgeoning global career.A Quote Repeated, But Not VerifiedA quote often attributed to Josephine Baker—that girls like her only had three options in life: "maid, prostitute, or dancer"—is frequently cited in connection with her early life in St. Louis, Missouri. However, despite its circulation in press materials, no direct source or citation of Baker stating these exact words has been confirmed. Nevertheless, she spoke openly about the systemic barriers facing black women and her personal journey to overcome poverty and segregation.An Exploration of How Images Shape LegacyThe exhibition at the Francisco Carolinum Linz is more than a nostalgic look back at a glamorous performer—it is a thoughtful exploration of how images shape legacy. Curator Mona Horncastle presents Josephine Baker not just as an entertainer, but as a cultural figure who navigated the worlds of art, fashion, fame, and political resistance with remarkable foresight.The show promises a preview of this multifaceted identity through photographs, media documents, and artistic interpretations, some drawn from rarely seen collections. It encourages visitors to see Baker not only as a star of the 20th century, but also as a modern icon, whose image remains relevant and whose story continues to raise questions about representation, race, and power. For those interested in visual culture, fashion history, or the intersection of celebrity and politics, this exhibition offers more than answers—it invites discovery. Image: Exhibition view of 'Josephine Baker. Idol Icon Inspiration' at Francisco Carolinum Linz (April 11 – September 7 2025), showing photographic works in a gallery setting. Photo: © kunst-dokumentation.com / Manuel Carreon Lopez. |