The Danish painter and transgender Lili Elbe (b. 28 Dec 1882—d. 13 Sep 1931) had several sex reassignment surgeries.
However, the real name of Lili was Einar Wegener, who was born as a male in Vejle, Denmark. Einar studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art. Therefore, Einar soon fell in love with his love of life. He met Gerda Gottlieb at the same Royal Danish Academy.
Bond between Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener
Therefore, their friendship grew stronger and closer. The unconditional love began between them. Gerda was born in Hammelev, Denmark in 1886, grew up in Copenhagen to pursue her artistic interests.
The Date of the birth of Wegener is yet an unsolved story. It has two versions. Recorded DOB is 1882 or some other stated 1886. Other studies says that she was intersex (an individual who has reversals variations in sex characteristic). And other studies says that she already had rudimentary ovaries. Nineteen year Gerda Gottlieb and Einar Wegener at 22 got married in 1904.
Parturition of Lili Elbe from Einar Wegener
However, Gerda became the wife of Einar. Both were painters. Therefore, Einar, renowned for landscape paintings, and Gerda, who was an illustrator of erotic magazines, books, and newspapers, Gerda began to be a role model for Wegener. Both moved to Paris. Their love started to steadily increase. After she gradually piqued his interest and began questioning her every other day about her dominance, Einar began to adore her and dress in soft feminine clothing.
I like the feel of soft women’s clothing. I felt very much at home in them from the first moment.
Lili Wegener
Lili Elbe started losing his existence as a man
However, Wegener started losing his existence as a man, being an artist as well as attracted in sexual terms to Gerda. Einar started behaving strangely, like a woman and its qualities. Inside her body, he was feeling like two personalities. Lili started posing for Gerda. He stopped painting and started focusing on how he would be a fully functional woman. Einar wanted a child. The disappearance of Einar, who was losing the shadow of her past, and a new beginning for Lili, were growing inside and out.
lili elbe paintings | 1. The art of Lili Elbe by Gerda Wegener
There are many Lili Elbe portraits in the form of paintings and most of them are by Gerda Wegener. They are available on the web and original. (the images with given a proper credit back to creator)
The famous work of Einar in the year 1924 included landscapes, portraits, and still lives. His work had occupied a great place at “Salon d’Automne” and “The Salon des Independents”.
I cannot deny, strange as it may sound, that I enjoyed myself in this disguise.
Lili
Her unconditional love urged her to go for surgeries. However, she attempted her first operation in 1930. Kurt Warnekros who had performed the sex reassignment on Wegener.
Lili Elbe paintings | 2. Lili elbe started posing for Gerda
However, Einar once tried to kill himself by being a dual personality. Existing as a transgender person was quite difficult in society in the 19s. She was completely known as Lili Elbe and the existence of Einar excited society, friends, and family.
Out of the couple, it was quite difficult to judge who was the best painter among them. However, the art of Gerda was never discussed by the Danish art community. However, after the medication and four hard surgeries, Einar was officially Lili Elbe, and thus she received the passport with her new name. Like a new birth, a complete woman from a man.
The Landscape created by Einar Wegener, Lili Elbe
Approval of King Christian X welcomed Lili Elbe
Breaking of the bond between Gerda and Lili
The king of Denmark (Christian X) withdrew “his” (Einar) and placed “her” (Lili Elbe). This also led to the breaking of the bond between Gerda and Lili. The activated hormonal transition of genes then seeks a male to be sexually reproductive and proves the sexual activeness of Lili as a regular woman. It was also said that she was the first woman to have undergone the surgery, but she was not. Her last operation was the transplantation of her ovaries and an artificial vagina to have successful intercourse. Her old friend asked her to marry him. Finally, Elbe got pregnant. However, she did not survive.
Lili was an inspiration to many transgender after her first book, “Man into Woman”
Shortly after the death (on September 13, 1931) of Lili Elbe due to a paralysis attack on the heart, in 1933 (within two years) her biography was published by Ernst Ludwig Harthern-Jacobson under the pseudonym (Niels Hoyer). All her accounts are published in “The Danish girl, based on her personal diary (gifted with her last wish).
Lili Elbe Movie | British actor who played Lili Elbe in the Movie “The Danish Girl”
The Danish Girl’s transgender character, Lili Elbe, was portrayed by actor Eddie Redmayne.
Eddie Redmayne, an Academy Award-winning actor best known for portraying a trans woman in the critically acclaimed movie The Danish Girl, has said that the part was a “mistake.” The Danish Girl received several nominations and accolades, but movie also faced harsh criticism for its casting of Eddie, a cisgender guy, as a trans woman.
