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Leonora Carrington: Surrealism, Alchemy and Art
£23.80£28.50 (-16%)
Now available for the first time in paperback, this book remains the definitive survey of the life and work of Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington (1917-2011). Carrington burst onto the Surrealist scene in 1936, when, as a precocious nineteen-year-old debutante, she escaped the stultifying demands of her wealthy English family by running away to Paris with her lover Max Ernst. She was immediately championed by Andre Breton, who responded enthusiastically to her fantastical, dark and satirical writing style and her interest in fairy tales and the occult. Her stories were included in Surrealist publications, and her paintings in the Surrealists’ exhibitions. After the dramas and tragic separations of the Second World War, Carrington ended up in the 1940s as part of the circle of Surrealist European emigres living in Mexico City. Close friends with Luis Bunuel, Benjamin Peret, Octavio Paz and a host of both expatriate Surrealists and Mexican modernists, Carrington was at the centre of Mexican cultural life, while still maintaining her European connections. Leonora Carrington: Surrealism, Alchemy and Art provides a fascinating overview of this intriguing artist’s rich body of work. The author considers Carrington’s preoccupation with alchemy and the occult, and explores the influence of indigenous Mexican culture and beliefs on her production.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd (28 Mar. 2010) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 160 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1848220561 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1848220560 |
| Dimensions | 24.89 x 1.52 x 29.01 cm |
by gawayne
I became aware of Leonora after reading Joanna Moreheads detailed book on her life, but it didn’t really say much about the symbology of her paintings, which is what I wanted to know really-so this book was perfect for me and the large format makes the illustrations more prominent and impressive.
by Ransen Owen
The reproductions are good and though some image seem too dark I think that is more a characteristic of the originals rather than the reproduction. The text could have been less “interpretive” and more detailed about Carrington’s life. The writing style is a bit dull.
by Reg T.
A brilliant book with over 100 reproductions. Well worth every penny about this neglected British/Mexican surrealist artist who should be better known in Britain and in Europe. She is already well known in Mexico and was the most famous Mexican (?) artist in Mexico itself even more famous than Frieda Khalo.
by Mary-Rose McDaniel
The only thing I found disappointing is the fact the photographs of the paintings are very dark. Her work is reproduced in odd entries I think by her granddaughter on Instagram and the photos of Leonora’s work are very clear and her images are so strikingly different to look at because you can see more detail as the artwork is a lot lighter. I had no idea I wasn’t looking at the real colours and depth before coming across her Instagram account.
Apart from that it’s a beautiful, well thought out book, but I struggle to see the detail as it could’ve been reproduced an awful lot better
by Seaviews
Loved this book, I hadn’t heard about this artist until I saw a tv programme about Leonora Carrington. So It was great to also find this very informative book.
by Kathleen Hallett
I love this book. Very informative and well-written and the illustrations of her artwork are wonderful. Altogether fascinating and absorbing. Well worth having, a constant interest.
by Random Tandem
It seems that the young Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) came from an elite society background, which disapproved of her painting, and disapproved even more of what she was painting and the company she mixed with. This important book will give those unfamiliar with her work an opportunity to quickly appreciate how she was one of the true giants of the surrealist movement in modern art.
She left her native England and spent some time in mainland Europe before finally settling in Mexico. Her works and career are far better known in North America, Japan, and other places than they are in her homeland. While other more household names like Dali and Picasso were socialising and deliberately seeking publicity, she was quietly working away at her easel. Leonora Carrington’s ability to combine her painterly skill with a talent for visualising strange and exotic scenes take us into a world that lies beyond the conscious mind, in an effective and rewarding way, which Susan L. Aberth’s book helpfully and sympathetically explores. There are lots of images, accompanied by some well-written narrative which details her background, life experiences, outlook, processes, and impact.
Published as a paperback in 2010, including notes and index the book runs to around 150 pages. At just slightly wider than A4 size, this makes it a comfortable book to be able to hold without becoming tiring too quickly. Many of the images are full-page, but several are not – but everything is large enough to be able to enjoy a good close-up study. Recommended.
by saxoclariman
great book. lovely repros, well written. very interesting.