Valley of the Moon 1950

Remedios Varo made this painting, Valley of the Moon, with oil on canvas. The delicate, precise brushwork and the layering of glazes create a dreamlike atmosphere. Varo’s technique is reminiscent of old master painting – a time-consuming, highly skilled process. The smooth surface belies the labor-intensive approach to building up the image, layer by layer. The subject matter reinforces this sense of otherworldly craft: a landscape inhabited by fantastical creatures, rendered in exquisite detail. Varo’s work often blurs the line between reality and fantasy, inviting us to question the nature of perception itself. The painting’s meticulous execution underscores the symbolic nature of its imagery, prompting us to look beyond the surface for deeper meaning. Ultimately, Valley of the Moon challenges our assumptions about the divide between the art of painting and the craft of making, reminding us that both are rooted in human ingenuity, skill, and imagination.