Is that a hyena, a rocking horse, and monster claws? If we look closely at Leonora Carrington's painting, we notice curious and surreal details. In this video that practices the skill of close looking, we also think about the choices that Carrington made to create this dreamlike, fantastic painting. We at ARTSQ think close looking is really important!

Who was Leonora Carrington?

Born in England, Carrington lived most of her life in Mexico. She was associated with the art movement called Surrealism. Plus, she loved animals and found affinity with them.

Close looking and formal analysis

In art history, close looking is the first step in doing something called a formal analysis, which is an analysis of things like the elements of art and the principles of design. If you’ve ever wondered how to do a formal analysis, our close looking series offers an excellent first step!

Take the first step to get to know this amazing woman artist and painting by watching the video!

Main image

Leonora Carrington, Self-Portrait, c. 1937–38, oil on canvas, 25 9/16 × 32 in. (65 × 81.3 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art.