Claude Cahun was the pseudonym adopted by the French surrealist born in 1894 as Lucy Schwob. From the 1910s until her death in 1954, Cahun used writing and photography to disrupt conventional ideas about gender. She performed a range of characters before her own camera's lens, exploring her identity and engaging others to examine the roles prescribed for women and men.

The first time I saw her self-portraits I was struck by her confidence, self-possession and imagination. On one level, I appreciated discovering this woman who dared to disregard feminine expectations so publicly and unapologetically. On another level, I was enthralled by her aesthetic sense and command of visual elements.

Cahun was very active in intellectual, artistic and political circles. She was a pacesetter for those of us who now choose to challenge gender and identity in our lives and work, and she was an inspiration to me. You should definitely check her out.--michelle