Claude Cahun's Photographic Journey from Self-Portrait to Narrative at Jeu de Paume

The exhibition at Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume in Paris traces Claude Cahun's shift from early 'photographic performance' to later narrative series, highlighting a retreat within the image. Opening with tight self-portraits focused on the face, it progresses to the 1948-49 series where Cahun appears distant, barefoot and blindfolded, guided by a large cat on a low wall with a cemetery in the background. The eight-photograph narrative 'Chemin des chats' retrospectively unfolds Cahun's journey as photographed by her companion Marcel Moore (born Suzanne Malherbe). As Cahun positions herself deeper in the frame, she creates space for Moore, making the image a collaborative retreat. The exhibition recounts this photographic voyage: the early years where her face and bust filled the frame are now distant. The final series signifies a release, a total trust in the medium no longer requiring performance. Blind on a wall with her cat as guide, Cahun moves toward Moore while receding into the photograph, a double meaning that serves as the ultimate commentary on her work.