Claude Cahun was a French writer, photographer, surrealist and performance artist who was born of the name Lucy Renee Mathilde Schwob. Cahun employed a subversive avant-garde art practice as a form of resistance to the Nazis while also exploring the combined issues of gender, sexuality and power. She created antinationalist leaflets that mocked Nazi ideology and distributed them throughout Jersey, leaving them in strategic places. To present her views further, she created a series of photographs and photomontages that challenged traditional ideas of gender, sexuality and identity. In her self portraits she dresses as a man, a woman and a genderless figure; blurring the boundaries between gender and challenging the viewer‘s assumptions about identity. Cahun’s connection to Jersey stemmed from many childhood holidays where she stayed on the island.

Visual

This photograph is of Claude Cahun herself. She is posed sat down with her legs crossed to one side while staring directly at the camera. She is wearing a short skirt with leggings underneath that have hearts drawn on them. Her long sleeved top also has writing on it saying ‘I AM TRAINING DONT KISS ME’ with two black dots either side. She has bold and stylistic makeup on her face with her hair slicked into a split style. She is also holding dumbbells with the words ‘TOTOR’ and ‘POPOL’ on them.

Technical

I believe that this photograph uses artificial lighting in order to darken the background and make the subject stand out. The background is in soft focus as the photo seems to be taken with a wide aperture. The photo has been taken at eye level in order to connect the subject and the viewer. Taken at a three quarter body shot, the costuming of the model is able to be seen which is important to convey Cahun’s artist goal.

Contextual

In 1920-1930, women were expected to take a more compliant role with priorities around raising children and providing emotional support for their husbands. However, during the twenties, those demands came to seem less and less compatible with women learning to value their individuality above the needs of others.

Conceptual

Cahun used her work to showcase gender neutrality and often undermined the traditional concepts of static gender roles. I believe the message on her top presents this idea by implying that she prioritises independence and education over taking a passive role. The use of two dumbbells could symbolise her multiple and split personalities as she takes on alter egos within her art. The dumbbells are also in juxtaposition with the femininity presented, with contrasts being a common theme in her work.