Gerda Wegener is celebrated today for her contributions to feminist art and her representations of lesbian identity. She was the wife of Einar Wegener, who transitioned and became the first recognized transgender female artist, known as Lili Elbe. Their unique relationship was depicted in David Ebershoff’s novel The Danish Girl and its 2015 film adaptation.
Illustrator for Vogue
Born Gerda Marie Fredrikke Gottlieb in 1886 in Hammelev, Denmark, Wegener pursued her artistic education at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. At the age of 19, she married fellow artist Einar Wegener who was two years her senior. Upon graduating, she became an illustrator for several fashion magazines, including Vogue.
The Emergence of Lili
Wegener’s artwork often depicted sophisticated women dressed in elegant clothing, shown in moments of luxury and leisure. When a female model canceled an engagement at the last moment, Einar, her partner, thoughtfully donned women’s attire and posed for her as a stand-in. This experience led to Einar embracing their true identity as Lili Elbe, eventually becoming one of her most cherished models.
Lesbian Erotica
In 1912, the couple departed the conservative environment of Copenhagen for the more liberal city of Paris. Here, Lili Elbe embraced her identity as a woman, while Wegener began to take bold steps in her artistry, creating sensual images of captivating women, initially within the Art Nouveau style and evolving into Art Deco motifs.
Lili’s Ground-Breaking Surgery
During the 1930s, Lili Elbe underwent sex reassignment surgery, one of the earliest documented instances of such a procedure. As the news spread, the King of Denmark annulled Gerda and Lili’s marriage. Despite this, the two remained closely bonded until Lili’s tragic passing in 1931, following her fourth surgery.
Awards and Recognition
Though Gerda Wegener received several accolades during her lifetime, including a first-place award in a 1908 competition focused on the “feminine ideal” and two gold medals at the 1925 World Fair in Paris, her work was largely overlooked at her death in 1940. The critical attention her art deserved came posthumously, with the Arken Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen holding a significant exhibit in 2016 showcasing her contributions.
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