Gerda Wegner was a Danish illustrator and painter.  She is known for her fashion illustratoins and her paintings, in and Art Nouveau and Art Deco style, that pushed the boundaries of her time concerning gender and love.

 

Gerda met fellow artist Lili Elbe- then known as Gerda Wegener-at the Royal Danish Academy of Arts in Copenhagen.  They married and Einar soon took on a female identity  adopting the name Lili and taking on a female persona. Lili dressed up in the fashions of the time posing with fans and feathers and became Gerda's favourite model.  Gerda became an extremely successful portrait painter in the 1920s and her work was bought by among others the Pompidou Centre in Paris during her life time.

 

Gerda and Lili's story was made into a film 'The Danish Girl' (2015) starring Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander.  Alicia won the Academy Award for best supporting actress for her role as Gerda Wegener.