The Invisible Painting: My Memoir of Leonora Carrington

by Gabriel Weisz Carrington, Jonathan Eburne (Preface)

Since her death in 2011, the memory of the widely renowned Surrealist artist and writer Leonora Carrington has been reinvented and reconstructed many times over. In this memoir, her son Gabriel Weisz Carrington draws on remembered conversations and events to demythologise Leonora and declare her not an icon or a goddess but an artist, first and foremost. For Gabriel, Leonora becomes a ghost, prompting him to ask how writing can retrieve someone we loved. The book strives to depict a complex and very real Surrealist creator, exploring Leonora not simply in relation to her romantic partners or social milieus but as the artist she always was. A textured portrait of Leonora emerges from conversations, memories, stories and her engagement with the books that she read. Using the act of writing to process and understand the death of his mother, the author has produced a moving and fascinating account of life, art, love and loss.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Art History

152 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2021

Reviews

[Chris Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

It suffers a little from the writer clearly being a bit overwhelmed at trying to add anything of note to his mother’s life, and frequently the book sort of meanders as Carrington struggles to process stuff, but when it hits it’s stride - usually when discussing his childhood or the art of creativity or the supernatural - it’s a beautiful book, a genuinely lovely tribute to his mother

[Justine Kaufmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tender look at growing up with Leonora Carrington as a mother. It will make you wish you had a Leonora in your life. It's also a celebration of her creativity and spirit, even in a world unfriendly to these souls.
However, the literary merit of this work brings it down a star. It's a bit too all over the place... And not just because his memory jumps around like a cat (his words)... I'm willing to let an author try to mimic memory's skips and hops, but only to a certain point. Certain memories and aspects felt very forced into this, particularly when he is relating his post-childhood years. His occasional use of you to "talk to his mother" is also a bit strange in places, not really adding any extra depth to it (plus, there's one really confusing paragraph where he starts addressing his mother with you-again not really adding anything in this instance-, switches to referring her in the third person, then a line of two later uses the generic you....).

Still interesting for any Leonora Carrington fans though.

[Zach Werbalowsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Gives some solid insights in Leonora's practice but like any memoir is mostly about the writer and not those around them. Probably would get more out of another volume, but this is a slim interesting read! Not a huge time commitment.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since her death in 2011, the legendary Surrealist Leonora Carrington has been reconstructed and reinvented many times over. In this book, Gabriel Weisz Carrington draws on remembered conversations and events to demythologise his mother, revealing the woman and the artist behind the iconic persona. He travels between Leonora’s native England and adopted homeland of Mexico, making stops in New York and Paris and meeting some of the remarkable figures she associated with, from Max Ernst and André Breton to Remedios Varo and Alejandro Jodorowsky. At the same time, he strives to depict a complex and very real Surrealist creator, exploring Leonora not simply in relation to her romantic partners or social milieus but as the artist she always was. A textured portrait emerges from conversations, memories, stories and Leonora’s engagement with the books that she read. Using the act of writing to process and understand the death of his mother, the author has produced a moving and fascinating account of life, art, love and loss. Gabriel draws upon sensory memory, associated the timeline of his childhood and memories with his mother to tangible moments. A memorable detail was when in 1968 Mexico was undergoing political change culminating in the Tlatelolco massacre, Carrington and Chiki printed mimeograph anti-government propaganda posters. Leonora’s paintings become gateways into her mind and chronicles of the impact of her own past exhibited as brushstrokes on a canvas.

[Margo Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. The early sections - full of anecdotes, name-dropping + nostalgia - read like an affectionate obituary for the 20th century. The latter sections which discuss the subconscious mind & art were harder to grasp but fascinating. In the end, the book is a touching love letter to his mother + I was moved by that.

[Helen Meads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Weisz’ memoir of his mother. I learned much more about Leonora Carrington, an extraordinary woman and artist, who had the most amazingly big sense of humour.

Niche for surrealist fans. Highly recommended!

[jesucristo.69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3

[kennygsreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

read for class and ended up genuinely loving this. hearing about Leonora Carrington through her son’s eyes was so beautiful & poignant. Cried like a baby at the end.

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recommended only really for those on a Carrington deep dive, who will probably be charmed; there's a lot of love inscribed in this book