Claude Cahun (25th October, 1894 – 8th December, 1954), born Lucy Renee Mathilde Schwob was a French lesbian photographer, sculptor and writer. Schwob adopted the pseudonym Claude Cahun in 1917, and is best known for self portraits, in which Cahun assumed a variety of different personae. Cahun’s work was both political and personal, and often undermined traditional concepts of gender roles. In her autobiography she says, “Feminine? Masculine? It depends on the situation. Neuter is the only gender that always suits me.” During WWII Cahun was also active as a resistance worker and propagandist.

Photographs by Claude Cahun

Image Analysis

This image is very monochrome, with different light and dark tones that contrast each other well. The composition of this image is well thought out with her head in the glass being the focal point in the center of the image. I believe this image has a deeper meaning and hasn’t just been created because it’s nice to look at. I think this image is a reflection of Claude Cahun’s life as she is trapped in this glass dome and on display in this image, which could imply she felt the same way because people would look and pay attention to her but would never think of her as anything other than a woman because it wasn’t as normalized in her time as it is currently. This image is perfectly thought out as it doesn’t give away too much but it shows enough about Cahun to get you thinking.