Claude Cahun, born Lucy Schwob in 1894, was a pioneering French surrealist photographer and writer renowned for their provocative, gender-defying self-portraits. Working in collaboration with their life partner Marcel Moore, Cahun adopted a gender-neutral pseudonym to challenge societal norms and explore themes of identity and gender fluidity long before such concepts were widely discussed. Their powerful body of work, which was largely forgotten for decades, has been rediscovered and is now celebrated as a cornerstone of queer art history and a major influence on contemporary artists. Beyond their artistic contributions, Cahun and Moore were also brave anti-fascist resisters during World War II, further cementing their legacy as figures of courage and artistic innovation.
Claude Cahun (1894-1954)
Self Portrait