Claude Cahun, born Lucy Renee Mathilde Schwob was a french photographer, sculptor and writer. Lucy would later go on to adopt the gender-ambiguous name Claude Cahun in 1917. She is most known for her self portraits that tend to blur the line between reality and fantasy. Her photos often make you question what exactly is actually happening in the photograph. Claude’s work was often centered around politics and the idea of eliminating gender roles within society. She once said, “Under this mask, another mask; I will never finishing removing all these faces.” I think this is a perfect way to describe Cahun’s work as it is truly a series of “masked portraits”. Every single one extremely different than the one before it and the one after it. Claude’s work is an inspiration to me and my work because it reminds me to venture into new ideas within my work and within each series. To expand a little and experiment with identity within portraiture.
All work courteous of Claude Cahun.