Front Page Illustration for the Danish Magazine Vore Damer, 19 October, 1927 1927

Editor: This is the front page illustration for the Danish magazine *Vore Damer*, from October 19, 1927, by Gerda Wegener. It's done in watercolor and it gives a really stylish, Art Nouveau feel. It reminds me a bit of a decadent evening out, but also makes me think about the roles of women at the time. What catches your eye in this piece? Art Historian: It's interesting that you bring up the roles of women, because Wegener was navigating a particularly transformative moment in gender identity. Consider the historical context: we’re in the late 1920s, a period of increased social freedom for women, yet also persistent constraints. What do you notice about how women are depicted here in terms of class and identity? Are they active agents or passive subjects in this cityscape? Editor: I see what you mean. They are elegantly dressed, part of high society it seems, but there’s a sense of performance. Their gazes are averted. And their bodies almost meld together... Are they individuals or types? Art Historian: Exactly. Wegener challenges us to consider how identity is constructed, particularly within the gaze of the media. The figures exist within the male gaze as figures to be looked at but are together, perhaps signalling female solidarity in an era defined by patriarchal societal expectations. Also Wegener's own identity being queer, her presentation of identity within a cosmopolitan context would have added to the layered nuance and significance to her artistic work. It allows us to understand more how Wegener broke with conventional narratives. Editor: I hadn't thought about the perspective of the artist herself adding another dimension. It really is amazing how much a single magazine cover can tell us about a whole era. Thank you! Art Historian: It is through art that we recognize that cultural relics act as the echo and visual document of their time.