Auto-Perco-Thermos
1946
Artist
Paul Mohr
DIMENSIONS
59 x 39 in. (149.9 x 99.1 cm)
OBJECT NUMBER
PH.2025.1659
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
France
CREDIT LINE
Poster House Permanent Collection
KEYWORDS
Black, Dance, Entertainment, Film, Man, Woman

Josephine Baker first sang “J’ai deux amours” (I Have Two Loves) at the Casino de Paris in 1930. The lyrics include the line, “J’ai deux amours, mon pays et Paris” (I have two loves, my country and Paris), alluding to her devotion to both America, where she was born, and Paris, where she lived. It would become one of Baker’s signature songs as well as a favorite of expats—especially Black Americans—who had made Paris their home. This poster advertising kitchen appliances plays on the words of the song, transforming Baker’s two loves into a pressure cooker and a coffee percolator. By the time Paul Mohr designed this poster in 1946, Baker was such a household name that she was paid to endorse a variety of products—and not just products for Black purchasers but for all consumers. This level of commercial influence marked a turning point; a Black woman could now be perceived internationally as a representative of Black American culture.

For inquiries about image licensing, please contact collections@posterhouse.org.

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