Claude Cahun was a French artist, writer, and political activist born in Nantes in 1894. She is known for her surrealist photography, writing, and her resistance work against the Nazi occupation of France during World War II. Cahun was born Lucy Schwob and began using the name Claude Cahun in her early twenties.

Cahun was a prolific writer and translated works by Oscar Wilde and Arthur Rimbaud into French. Her writing explored themes of gender identity, sexuality, and politics. She was an advocate for women’s rights and was involved in the French suffragette movement.

Cahun’s surrealist photography, which she often created with her partner Marcel Moore, challenged traditional gender norms and identity. She frequently dressed in men’s clothing and used mirrors, masks, and other props to create surreal, dreamlike images.

Cahun and Moore were both openly gay and were active in the French lesbian community. They were also members of the French Resistance during World War II and used their artistic skills to create propaganda that challenged the Nazi occupation of France.

Cahun was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944 and sentenced to death. She was saved from execution by the Allied liberation of France later that year. After the war, she continued to write and create art, but her health began to decline. She died in 1954 at the age of 60.

Claude Cahun’s legacy continues to inspire artists and activists today. Her political activism and resistance work demonstrated her courage and commitment to social justice. Her surrealist photography and writing continue to challenge traditional gender norms and inspire others to explore their own identity and creativity.