Floral bouquet with birds 1960

Remedios Varo, a Mexican-Spanish surrealist painter, made this bouquet of birds and flowers. Looking at it, I imagine her gently layering the paint, coaxing these strange lifeforms onto the canvas. There’s something both fantastical and grounded about this painting. Varo’s earthy palette and meticulous brushwork give the flowers a sense of weight, while the birds have a playful, almost cartoonish quality. I can almost feel her exploring the textures of the leaves, the smooth plumage of the birds, and the velvety petals. The red bird—the brushstroke that defines its crest, feels alive with curiosity! It reminds me a bit of Leonora Carrington’s dreamlike landscapes, but with a touch more whimsy. It’s as if Varo is inviting us into her own personal Eden, where nature takes on a life of its own. This piece, in my eyes, is a beautiful example of how art can be a form of magical world-building, offering us a glimpse into the artist’s unique perspective.