Beauford and Josephine Baker

I believe Beauford would be incredibly excited about the upcoming ceremony that the French government is organizing to honor Josephine Baker at the Pantheon.

Josephine Baker in 1940
Photo by Harcourt
Image in the public domain

Baker became a French citizen in 1937, when she married Jean Lion. She risked her life to serve France as a member of the French Resistance during World War II and was awarded several medals for that service. She will be the sixth woman, the first U.S.-born person, and the sixth person of African descent to be honored at the Pantheon.

According to biographer David Leeming:

Beauford admired Baker and followed her career closely. In 1968, when asked what he wanted for his birthday, he would request that he be taken to one of Baker's many farewell concerts at the Olympia in Paris. He would be as thrilled by her that night as he had been by her performance some forty years earlier*.

I am unaware of any sketches or portraits that Beauford may have done of Baker and wonder how he might have portrayed her.

*Leeming is referring to Baker's performance in the 1920s musical Shuffle Along.