Reborn in the City of Light: At a time when Paris was an incubator of modernism, a group of bold American women arrived to make art out of their lives.

The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. is currently hosting an exhibition titled "Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900-1939." The exhibition showcases the work of a diverse group of American women artists, writers, and performers who found their way to Paris during this time period. These women, who came from different backgrounds and experiences, shared a common desire for freedom from societal constraints. The exhibition features artists such as Berenice Abbott, Lois Mailou Jones, Natalie Barney, Romaine Brooks, Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas, Josephine Baker, and Janet Flanner, among others. The exhibition highlights the importance of formal groups and spaces like salons and bookshops in fostering artistic and intellectual communities. The exhibition also explores the remarkable lives and contributions of these women beyond their time in Paris. [Extracted from the article]