Claude Cahun
1894–1954 · France / Jersey
Shifting visible identities.
Explorer l’œuvre ↓
Claude Cahun · 1927
Domaine public · Reuse conditions · Artwork record
The story
Under the name Claude Cahun, writing, self-portraiture, performance and photomontage formed an exploration of identities and their representations. The photographs were often made with Marcel Moore, Cahun’s partner in life and art. Costumes, mirrors and attitudes challenge the idea of a portrait that simply reveals a stable person. The work draws the viewer into a play of transformations in which collaboration remains essential.
Understanding the work
Identify props and poses, then imagine the decisions made together. A portrait does not deliver a definitive identity: it may offer several contradictory versions.
Key works and series
Self-portraits; photomontages; Aveux non avenus.
Sources & further exploration
A journey through images.
1 workClick an image to enlarge it. Captions, collections and reuse conditions appear below each work. Captions describe the photographs; the source records retain catalogue titles and provide context.
Claude Cahun · 1927
Domaine public · Reuse conditions · Artwork record
Works in collections.
6 recordsPhotographs to explore on museum and library websites, with titles, dates and processes. Each link opens the collection record and its image where one is available.
- MoMA · 1929
Théâtre de recherches dramatiques. Claude Cahun au masque et Roger Roussot dans Le Mystère d’Adam
Gelatin silver print
- MoMA · 1929
Théâtre de recherches dramatiques. Claude Cahun (autoportrait) et Solange Roussot dans Le Mystère d’Adam
Gelatin silver print
