Claude Cahun : A Sensual Politics of Photography

The first full-length title in English on the celebrated photographer Claude Cahun whose work was rediscovered in the 1980s. This lively and original book looks at Cahun and her oeuvre in the contexts of the turbulent times in which she lived. Surveying standard postmodernist approaches to Cahun, born Lucy Schwob, Doy goes further, positioning Cahun's photographs as part of her life as a woman, lesbian and political activist in the early twentieth century. Doy considers Cahun's relationships with Symbolism and then Surrealism and her approach to dress and masquerade, assessing the images in the context of the situation of women at the time and within the prevailing fashion and beauty culture. She also pays attention to her curious images of constructed objects and re-evaluates the status of Cahun's small-scale snapshots as photographs. Enormously readable, 'Claude Cahun' at last provides a fuller picture of this important artist's life and work.

The first full-length title in English on the celebrated photographer Claude Cahun whose work was rediscovered in the 1980s. This lively and original book looks at Cahun and her oeuvre in the contexts of the turbulent times in which she lived. Surveying standard postmodernist approaches to Cahun, born Lucy Schwob, Doy goes further, positioning her photographs as part of her life as a woman, lesbian and political activist in the early twentieth century. She considers Cahun's relationships with Symbolism and then Surrealism and her approach to dress and masquerade, assessing the images in the context of the situation of women at the time and within the prevailing fashion and beauty culture. She also pays attention to her curious images of constructed objects and re-evaluates the status of her small-scale snapshots as photographs. Enormously readable, 'Claude Cahun' at last provides a fuller picture of this important artist's life and work.

The First Full-length Title In English On The Photographer Claude Cahun Whose Work Was Rediscovered In The 1980s, This Book Looks At Cahun And Her Oeuvre In The Contexts Of The Turbulent Times In Which She Lived. Surveying Standard Postmodernist Approaches To Cahun, Born Lucy Schwob, Doy Goes Further, Positioning Her Photographs As Part Of Her Life As A Woman, Lesbian And Political Activist In The Early Twentieth Century. She Considers Cahun's Relationships With Symbolism And Then Surrealism And Her Approach To Dress And Masquerade, Assessing The Images In The Context Of The Situation Of Women At The Time And Within The Prevailing Fashion And Beauty Culture. She Also Pays Attention To Her Curious Images Of Constructed Objects And Re-evaluates The Status Of Her Small-scale Snapshots As Photographs. --book Jacket. This is the first single-authored book in English on the photographer Claude Cahun, whose work was rediscovered in the 1980s. Doy moves beyond standard postmodern approaches, instead repositioning the artist, born Lucy Schwob, in the context of the turbulent times in which she lived and seeing the photographs as part of Cahun's wider life as an artist and writer, a woman and lesbian and as a political activist in the early twentieth century. Doy rethinks Cahun's approach to dress and masquerade, looking at the images in light of the situation of women at the time and within the prevailing'beauty'culture. Addressing Cahun's ambivalent relationship with Symbolism and later relationship with Surrealism, this highly readable book also looks at Cahun's unusual approach to the domestic object. Contents......Page 8 List of Illustrations......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 14 A Brief Chronology......Page 16 Introduction......Page 20 1. Medusa and Her Sisters......Page 34 2. Masks, Masqerades and Mirrors......Page 55 3. Love, Politics and What She Wore......Page 100 4. Politics and Its Objects......Page 128 Afterword......Page 160 Notes......Page 168 Select Bibliography......Page 212 Index......Page 220 Provides information about the photographer Claude Cahun, whose work was rediscovered in the 1980s. This book positions the artist in the context of the turbulent times in which she lived. It sees the photographs as part of Cahun's wider life as an artist and writer, a woman and lesbian and as a political activist in the early twentieth century. A study of the celebrated photographer Claude Cahun whose work was rediscovered in the 1980s. Surveying standard postmodernist approaches to Cahun, born Lucy Schwob, Gen Doy positions her photographs as part of her life as a woman, lesbian and political activist in the early twentieth century. Medusa and her sisters Masks, masquerades and mirrors Love, politics and what she wore Politics and its objects.