Who is Claude Cahun?

Claude Cahun was a French artist, writer, and activist who lived from 1894 to 1954. Born Lucy Schwob, they were raised in a wealthy Jewish family in Nantes, France. Cahun and their partner, Marcel Moore (born Suzanne Malherbe), were known for their surrealist photography, which often explored gender identity and sexuality.

Cahun and Moore began their artistic collaboration in the 1920s and continued until Cahun’s death in 1954. Together, they created a body of work that was ahead of its time, exploring themes of gender, identity, and power. Their photographs often featured Cahun dressed in gender-bending costumes, such as a suit and tie or a dress and heels. They would often use props and backdrops to create surreal and dreamlike images.

Cahun was also a writer and published several books of poetry and essays. Their writing often explored themes of identity and the self, and they were known for their feminist and anti-fascist activism. During World War II, Cahun and Moore were active in the French Resistance, distributing anti-Nazi propaganda and helping to smuggle Jewish children out of the country. They were eventually caught by the Gestapo and sentenced to death, but were saved when the Allies liberated the island of Jersey, where they were being held.

Relation to Gender/Idenity

Claude Cahun’s work was deeply concerned with issues of gender and identity. They used their art to explore the fluidity of gender and the constructed nature of identity. Cahun’s photographs often featured them dressed in gender-bending costumes, such as a suit and tie or a dress and heels, and they would use props and backdrops to create surreal and dreamlike images.

Through their work, Cahun challenged traditional notions of gender and identity, suggesting that these are not fixed but rather are constructed through a complex interplay of social, cultural, and historical factors. Cahun’s writing also explored these themes, and they were known for their feminist and anti-fascist activism. Cahun’s work continues to have relevance today, particularly in the context of ongoing debates around gender and identity. Their photographs and writing offer a powerful critique of the ways in which gender is constructed and can be used to control and oppress individuals. Cahun’s legacy as an artist, writer, and activist continues to inspire people today, particularly those who are interested in exploring issues of gender and identity.

Their Work