“Rimmington combines beautiful and disturbing elements in this painting, which is an important example of Surrealist art by a female British artist. The work shows the artist’s interest in metamorphosis, featuring stages from a butterfly’s life cycle. The species depicted can all be found in Britain. They are, clockwise from the top right, the Ringlet, Peacock, Wall Brown and Red Admiral butterflies. The exquisitely painted butterflies contrast with the more disquieting imagery of caterpillars emerging from the exposed palm of the hand. The veins inside the hand and wrist have been transformed into curving plant tendrils.”

About Edith Rimmington:

“Rimmington was born in Leicester and joined the British Surrealist Group in 1937. She exhibited regularly with the Surrealists and practiced automatic writing and drawing, with some of her poems appearing in Surrealist publications. Rimmington’s paintings are noted for their delicacy and the precise application of paint.”