“Ascension” is a symbolic painting by Remedios Varo, a renowned artist within the Surrealism movement. This particular artwork exemplifies the distinctive merger of fantasy, mystical symbolism, and an enigmatic narrative that characterizes Varo’s oeuvre and the broader Surrealist agenda.
In the artwork, the central figure is cloaked in a voluminous, fiery-orange robe that swirls around her with a life of its own, suggesting movement and a dynamic interplay with the unseen forces at work within this otherworldly environment. She stands poised on a pair of elongated, paddle-like feet that appear to gently disturb the dark, rippling waters she is walking upon, giving the impression of a delicate, almost balletic form of locomotion.
The backdrop presents a brooding landscape that features a monolithic structure to the left, resembling an ancient tower or chimera-scaped tree, adding to the otherworldly and timeless quality of the scene. To the right, a barren tree stretches its limbs towards the mysterious, luminescent orb that hangs in the sky, invoking a sense of cosmic significance. The atmosphere is fraught with the surreal and the arcane, evoking emotions that resonate with wonder and introspection.
Drawing on alchemical and mystical symbolism, Varo invites viewers to traverse the boundaries of the conscious world and confront the enigmatic depth of the subconscious. There is a feeling of transition or transformation within the composition, as the central figure may be interpreted as ascending to a higher state or traversing an esoteric path of knowledge and self-discovery.
