Gerda Wegener, a Bohemian Lesbian Artist in the 1920s • fluffy Lychees

Gerda Wegener

Gerda Wegener | A Lesbian Pioneer Artist

Gerda Wegener (self-)Portrait of a young woman. It is unconnfirmed if this is a self-portrait of lesbian painter Gerda Wegener. Danish artist Gerda Wegener and her husband Einar Wegener moved to France, escaping their hometown Copenhagen on the quest for more artistic and sexual freedom. Arriving in Paris in 1912, the artistic couple started acting out their dreams of freedom in the early 20th century.

When a female model failed to show up, Einar stood-in for a female portrait subject. This was the beginning of Einar becoming Gerda’s chief model. They both enjoyed the play of portraying Einar as a woman in disguise. During this time Einar began to wear female clothing, and adopted her female name Lili Elbe.
The couple immersed themselves in the Bohemian lifestyle of the time, befriending many artists, dancers and musicians, often attending carnivals and other public festivals.
While Einar’s career never really took off, Gerda became a popular portrait painter and her art deco illustrations were printed in leading Parisian fashion magazines. In addition, she drew scantily clad women giving themselves to each other in rococo surroundings.

n 1930 Elbe underwent sex reassignment surgery (the second known). As Danish law at the time did not recognize marriage between two women, their marriage was annulled in October 1930 by King Christian X. Elbe died in 1931 from complications of the surgery.
After a second marriage till 1936, Gerda returned to Denmark in 1938. She lived alone in relative obscurity, selling hand-painted postcards. She died on July 28, 1940, in Frederiksberg, Denmark.

Over the years, the story of the couple gained a cult following in Denmark and around the world. With a new focus on gender and feminism in art their artwork has finally been rediscovered.

Gerda Wegener | Les Délassements D’Eros

Les Délassements D'Eros by Gerda Wegener. One of twelve elegantly erotic pochoir Plates from 1925. Beautiful lesbian sex scenes, executed in perfect Art Deco, by the Bohemian Icon of the lesbian and queer art scene of the 1920s.

Les Délassements D’Eros | Twelve Elegantly Erotic Pochoir Plates

This highly erotic masterpiece by Gerda Wegener is a set of aquarelle pochoir plates. Les Délassements D’Eros (The recreation of Eros) shows fairy-like girls amusing themselves alone, together or with the help of a satyr. A cornucopia of lesbian sex scenes, executed in perfect Art Deco, by the Bohemian Icon of the lesbian and queer art scene of the 1920s. … see more