Portrait of Lili Elbe with green feather fan

Gerda Wegener

1920

Portrait of Lili Elbe with green feather fan by Gerda Wegener, 1920

Gerda Wegener painted this stunning portrait of her wife, Lili Elbe, in 1920, capturing her elegance and grace amidst a riot of colorful flowers. Lili, dressed in a soft pink gown and holding a dramatic green feather fan, was a pioneering figure in transgender history and one of the first known recipients of sex reassignment surgery. The lush, illustrative style makes it look like a glamorous fashion plate, but it’s actually a deeply personal love letter from an artist to her muse.

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