As the Volante 1962

Remedios Varo, in her painting *As the Volante*, presents us with a figure piloting a peculiar vehicle engulfed in an ethereal, fiery glow. The symbolism here is potent. The volante, traditionally a carriage, is transformed into a vessel of alchemical journey. The fire, often a symbol of purification and transformation, consumes the carriage, suggesting a metamorphosis. This resonates with ancient beliefs in the transformative power of fire, seen in the alchemical processes aimed at purifying the soul, and echoing the mythological phoenix rising from ashes, a symbol of renewal. The figure, encased in what appears to be protective gear, guides this flaming vehicle. The act of driving itself symbolizes control and direction, yet the fiery context introduces an element of danger. It's reminiscent of the chariot of Apollo, pulling the sun across the sky, a powerful image that speaks to humanity's yearning to control nature's most powerful forces. This archetypal struggle evokes both the hope of mastery and the ever-present risk of being consumed by one's ambitions.