The Call 1961

Curator: Here we have Remedios Varo's striking 1961 oil painting, "The Call," currently residing at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Editor: Okay, wow, my first thought? Ethereal. Almost dreamlike. That fiery figure with her blazing hair against the muted, almost gothic architecture... it's arresting. Curator: Indeed. Varo's work consistently navigates themes of identity and spiritual quest, frequently through the lens of surrealism. In "The Call," we witness a woman in flowing robes, holding what appears to be a vessel or perhaps a small, captured bird, as she seems to emerge from an otherworldly gathering. Editor: Right? There’s such a potent feeling of initiation here. It’s like she’s on the precipice of something... or perhaps she's already transformed, ready to bring this knowledge—represented by that delicate thing she’s holding—back to the stone-faced onlookers. Curator: Precisely. Consider the societal context of Varo’s time; a female artist, particularly one immersed in surrealism, was inherently challenging patriarchal norms. She situates women not merely as passive objects of the gaze but as active agents on a journey toward self-discovery and enlightenment, a deeply feminist narrative for the time. Editor: The architectural details, too. They have such a somber, almost repressive feeling to them compared to her radiance. She glows, whereas those buildings, and the faces hidden amongst them, seem petrified and ancient. Do you think she's literally bringing the light? I can't help but imagine her as some kind of divine messenger! Curator: That interpretation certainly resonates. But note the use of color and light here. Varo intentionally contrasts the earthy tones and the golden glow emanating from our protagonist to reinforce her central position, further alluding to this quest. Editor: Absolutely. It feels like she wants us to believe in something...something bigger, something waiting for us beyond the ordinary, right? Makes you wonder what we might be missing... Curator: Indeed, and it speaks volumes about her commitment to creating these evocative artworks. They challenged the status quo, celebrating imagination and the female spirit, and ultimately prompting each one of us to consider, in a broader cultural sense, where that call might originate. Editor: Yeah, I guess at the end of the day this really speaks to me because art, much like that bird in her hand, is about freedom. Freedom to be, to think, and yes, maybe, even to believe.