"Air de Capri" is an iconic oil painting created by Danish artist Gerda Wegener in 1923. The artwork, measuring approximately 80 x 99.7 cm (31 1/4 x 39 1/4 in), showcases Wegener's talent and style, which pushed the boundaries of her time concerning gender and love. The original painting's current location is unknown. Wegener was a Danish illustrator and painter known for her fashion illustrations and later her paintings that challenged societal norms. She was a key figure in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, and her work often featured her partner, Lili Elbe, who was one of the first recipients of sex reassignment surgery.
Gerda Wegener, born Gerda Marie Frederikke Gottlieb on March 15, 1886, in Hammelev, Denmark, was a pioneering artist whose work continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. She studied art with her brother and attended classes at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Wegener's style was influenced by the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, and she is known for her progressive feminist portraits and her paintings that challenged societal norms. She was married to Lili Elbe, one of the first-ever documented recipients of sex reassignment surgery, and her work often featured Elbe, pushing the boundaries of gender and love of her time. Wegener's art was a celebration of love, beauty, and the human experience, and her legacy continues to be celebrated and admired.