GEORGES DE POGEDAIEFF ( 1897- ?) JOSEPHINE BAKER. 1931.

63 1/4x43 1/2 inches. H. Chachoin, Paris.
Condition A-: vertical and horizontal folds.
Pogedaieff was a Russian aristocrat who emigrated to Paris. He was a successful painter known for his posh, mannerist portraits and scenes of the elegant Parisian lifestyle in the purest Art Deco style. He also designed sets for the theater and operetta. For Josephine Baker he has utilized the unusual (and as far as we can determine, unique) concept of drawing a very realistic portrait of her face with the text all precisely arranged within the image! The stylized typography conforms to the contours of Josephine's head and forces the viewer's eye to blink back and forth between the name and the face, creating an almost neon sign-like effect! This daring approach gives the poster an unconventional and striking, effectiveness. It stands out among the many images that Josephine commissioned as the one with the freshest approach.