Do You Know My Aunt Eliza? 1941

Leonora Carrington created this surrealist drawing, ‘Do You Know My Aunt Eliza?’, using ink on paper. Carrington, a British-born artist who spent much of her life in Mexico, created a world of mythical beings and unsettling encounters, often challenging the social norms of her time. This work is no exception. The nightmarish scene with hybrid figures challenges conventional expectations. The drawing may reflect Carrington’s experience with mental illness and the oppressive psychiatric institutions of the mid-20th century. The use of Christian iconography, such as the cross, could reference the role of religion in social control. To fully understand Carrington’s world, historians consult her writings, biographies, and critical analyses. The meaning of this piece remains contingent on the culture from which it emerged.