By Aquarium - Remedios Varo

A surrealist composition by Remedios Varo featuring two enigmatic figures in a dense forest, rendered with precise, luminous detail.

Remedios Varo, a Spanish-born artist who spent much of her career in Mexico, created By Aquarium in 1957. This work displays her characteristic approach to narrative painting, where figures appear caught in moments of quiet, alchemical transformation. The composition features two figures: a seated person in a dark suit and a taller, ethereal being whose lower half transitions into a wheel. The taller figure wears a cloak that envelops both, suggesting a shared journey or a protective bond. The background consists of a dense, vertical forest rendered in shades of olive and deep green, which creates a sense of enclosure. Varo often employed a technique involving fine, precise brushwork to achieve a luminous quality. The figures possess elongated features and large, expressive eyes, which are hallmarks of her style. The presence of a large key held by the taller figure introduces an element of mystery, a common motif in her work that hints at hidden knowledge or the unlocking of subconscious states. The cloud-like form surrounding the head of the taller figure suggests a dissolution of the physical into the atmospheric, a theme that recurs throughout her oeuvre. By Aquarium reflects the artist's interest in esoteric traditions, science, and the occult. Her work avoids the chaotic impulses of some European surrealists, opting instead for a controlled, almost architectural precision. The colour palette is dominated by earthy tones, with the orange of the cloak providing a sharp contrast to the surrounding forest. This piece invites the viewer to consider the relationship between the physical world and the internal life of the mind, presented through a lens of quiet, deliberate fantasy.