“Cancer Detection” in Gyn-Cytology, by Mary Gzowski

This mural is a fascinating anomaly in the known work of Mary Gzwoski. It hints at an interest in surrealist principles, defined often by dreamlike, illogical and uncanny elements. The mural was originally located in the Montreal General Hospital and created for the April 1955 meeting of the Montreal Medico-Chirurgical Society. Now housed at the Maude Abbott Medical Museum, McGill University.

Gzowski described this mural in her own words: “The Eye of the World (Projected from Montreal!) looks through the ether toward the larger scientific section. In the sky the stars are represented by normal epithelial cells: while a thin crescent moon demurely depicts the female reproductive cycle. In the world’s beam, “Happy Uterus” flies through her life in a gay, healthy and nonchalant manner: – wile “miserable uterus” weeps “CA” tears, and is very unhappy at her tired and diseased state of existence.

The microscopic lens, with tri-coloured rays, represents science. The yellow light, in focus, shows a view of the cervix with “CA” in situ. The slides, serving a dual purpose, indicate (1) How the cells are identified (2) Steps towards progress. Below a wooden spatula is poised in the direction for examination. In the lower left corner, an ovary rests crowned by a small cyst.”