The Souls of the Mountain 1938

Remedios Varo’s "The Souls of the Mountain" is an enigmatic painting, likely made with oil on canvas, where the boundary between figure and landscape dissolves in a dream-like scene. Look at how Varo builds up this strange world using thin glazes and delicate brushwork. The figures emerge from the rock formations, their expressions serene, their forms blending into the mountain. There’s a real sense of alchemy here, of transforming base materials into something otherworldly. The palette is subdued, mostly browns and grays, yet there’s a luminosity that comes from within. Notice the glowing threads that connect each figure, almost as if they are breathing life into the landscape, or the landscape is giving them life. Varo's work reminds me of Leonora Carrington who also created surreal, symbolic worlds. Both invite us to contemplate the unseen forces that shape our existence. Varo leaves us with more questions than answers, embracing the mystery of the creative process.