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The Giantess
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The Giantess

painting by Leonora Carrington
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Also known as: “The Guardian of the Egg”
Written by
Lucinda Hawksley
Lucinda Hawksley is an award-winning art and travel writer. Her work appears in Encyclopaedia Britannica as part of a joint publishing agreement with the publisher of 1001 Paintings You Must See Before...
Lucinda Hawksley
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The Giantess, tempera painting by English-born Mexican Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington that was created about 1947. Also known as The Guardian of the Egg, it is one of her best-known works and is in a private collection in Mexico.

The giantess in the painting, likely denoting the divine feminine, stands before a seascape. Her small face is framed by what seems at first glance to be golden hair but is also a field of wheat. Her red dress has strange symbols on it. A pair of wild geese fly out of her white cloak, and birds and sea creatures fly protectively around her. She holds a spotted egg, a symbol of the regeneration of life, between diminutive hands. At her feet, tiny villagers appear to try to take up arms against her.

The Giantess exhibits strong composition, great delicacy, and dreamlike images. This captivating work has inspired critics, writers, and viewers to explore a wealth of possible meanings within the painting.

Lucinda Hawksley