Witch going to the Sabbath 1957

Curator: This piece, executed in oil paint, is entitled "Witch going to the Sabbath" by Remedios Varo in 1957. I am immediately drawn in by its enigmatic presence, its surreal quality, and the somewhat haunting beauty. What do you see? Editor: Immediately, I notice the artist’s focus on line and layering to create that incredible central void and I find myself pondering the materials Varo selected to represent the female figure with this odd costume-like structure. Curator: Absolutely. Focusing on materiality, the artist’s technique in building up the fur-like cloak is intriguing, and her careful manipulation of the oil paint on canvas draws attention to the labor invested. The surreal nature is heightened by the bird and lamp—what meaning do you extract? Editor: The formal qualities here are rather captivating. The contrast in colors and textures. The softness of the feathered edges against the geometric precision of the lamp she carries offers an interesting paradox. Curator: Let's also remember that Remedios Varo was a Spanish-Mexican surrealist painter, so her experiences during World War II surely impacted her art. One can interpret this "witch" as symbolizing suppressed female agency, or resistance against patriarchal norms. Considering the artist's exile from Europe, is there a context there? Editor: Perhaps there is commentary on exile and dislocation but to consider the broader circumstances of artistic creation and dissemination in post-war Europe: the market conditions, available materials, the accessibility to artistic training also seem really important. The constraints on artistic creation itself might have influenced this particular dreamscape. Curator: The fact that this piece uses such specific iconography makes it so compelling, like peering into a secret language. The details draw you closer and closer! It feels intensely personal, doesn't it? Editor: The careful composition directs our gaze through a series of intriguing gestures, drawing us into a contemplation of symbolism. Curator: Considering how we interpret a witch’s agency opens a whole discourse regarding how historical contexts impacted artistic representation. Thank you for shining your Formalist lens upon it! Editor: Indeed, and focusing on those compositional elements gives new dimension to how an image like that functions on its own terms and allows it to come to life in its own right.