Gerda Wegener (Danish, 1885–1940) was a Danish illustrator and painter known for her Art Nouveau and Art Deco portraits that pushed against the norms of her time. Born Gerda Gottlieb in rural Denmark, she trained in Copenhagen and later moved to Paris, where her bold, glamorous depictions of women—often queer-coded or erotically charged, earned her international recognition.
She lived and worked alongside her partner, Einar Wegener, who later transitioned to Lili Elbe. Their relationship became part of history when Lili underwent one of the first gender-affirming surgeries. Though their marriage was annulled, Gerda continued to paint Lili with deep care and complexity.
Later in life, she spent time in Morocco and returned to Denmark before her death in 1940. Long overlooked, her work has recently re-emerged as a touchstone for queer art history and feminist image-making.
