Disavowals; or, Cancelled Confessions

Disavowals; or, Cancelled Confessions is a significant work by Claude Cahun, a French writer, photographer, and performance artist known for their Surrealist and avant-garde work. Published in 1930, this "anti-memoir" is a unique form of autobiography that uses text and photomontages to explore Cahun's struggles with identity and self-discovery. The work is characterized by its non-linear narrative, self-doubt, and contradictions, offering a profound look into Cahun's complex relationship with themselves and the world.1

Cahun, born Lucy Schwob, actively challenged gender and sexual identity constructions by adopting the gender-neutral name Claude and often shaving their head. Their self-portraits, created in collaboration with their lifelong companion Suzanne Malherbe (also known as Marcel Moore), frequently depict ambiguously gendered personas, blurring the lines between male and female identities. This exploration of mutable identity was further influenced by Havelock Ellis's studies on sexuality.1

The title Disavowals; or, Cancelled Confessions itself suggests a theme of renunciation or retraction, reflecting the introspective and often contradictory nature of the text. Cahun's work, including Disavowals, was largely overlooked until the late 1980s, but is now recognized for its pioneering examination of gender and identity, influencing later artists.2341