The flapper—with her bobbed hair, short skirt, and carefree demeanor—is one of the most recognizable symbols of the 1920s. At the end of the First World War America was in a new age of prosperity, urbanism, and consumerism, and an entire generation of young women were eager to shed old norms and embrace the new freedoms that the modern era offered. No longer content to be confined to the domestic sphere, flappers rattled traditional American society, not only with their dancing, drinking, and smoking, but also by asserting their independence, earning their own keep, and determining their own destiny. Bold and unapologetic, these women epitomized the spirit of the Roaring Twenties.
This exhibition celebrates the flapper’s place in 1920s culture and encourages reflection on how media representations influence social trends and identities. By showcasing the interplay between print culture and societal change, these objects offer a deeper understanding of how the flapper became a defining icon, capturing the essence of an era marked by liberation, innovation, and cultural transformation.
Featuring an array of materials from the collections of the Helen Farr Sloan Library & Archives, Flapper Philosophy: Modern Women in the Jazz Age serves as a companion to Jazz Age Illustration, both on view at the Delaware Art Museum from October 5, 2024 - January 26, 2025.
