Queen of Hearts – Portrait of Lili
Gerda Wegener captured the vibrant spirit of 1920s Paris in this portrait of her wife, Lili Elbe. Dressed in a striking pink gown, Lili casually smokes a cigarette while holding the Queen of Hearts—a clever visual pun on her name and a symbol of her bold identity. This artwork is deeply tied to a fascinating slice of history: Lili Elbe was a pioneering transgender woman whose life story inspired the movie 'The Danish Girl'. The table is cluttered with the era's essentials, including cocktail glasses, scattered playing cards, and a French newspaper, painting a picture of a glamorous, modern life.