getting teary eyed thinking about gerda gottlieb's paintings of her wife after she transitioned
thing is, for a lot of these paintings it wasnβt βafterβ lily elbeβs transition. there was no after to it. the one op posted was painted in 1928. this was 2 years before lily legally changed her name and began undergoing revolutionary gender affirming procedures. unfortunately she died due to complications of an experimental uterine transplant in 1931.
up until that point, during the day lily continued to dress in masculine clothing and even attended galleries showing gottliebβs paintings of her. which was kind of iconic. she got to stand in a room full of people who were marveling her beauty, not knowing she was right next to them. it must have been such a cute little secret for them as a couple.
hereβs gerda and lilly together
not to mention that for most people there is no real βafterβ to a transition. especially for these trans historical figures who had to balance identity and safety at all times.
i think having a wife paint these portraits must have felt really amazing for lily. to be able to see herself through the eyes of someone who loved her. iβm very much seconding op on the getting teary eyed.
here are some of my favorite gottleib lily paintings
