The artwork titled “Cats Paradise,” created by artist Remedios Varo in 1955, is an oil on masonite painting that measures 29 by 21 centimeters. This piece is an exemplar of the Surrealism movement and is characterized as a symbolic painting. Presently, “Cats Paradise” is held in a private collection.
The artwork depicts a whimsical and otherworldly scene centered around an architectural structure reminiscent of a tower, painted in warm shades of red with twin conical roofs. Within the tower, a cat peers out from an opening, and the scene is populated by various cats engaged in different activities. The tower itself seems to be connected to a fantastical contraption with rotating elements, possibly suggesting a wind-powered device.
Surrounding the tower is a bucolic landscape, painted with a fine attention to detail that brings life to the grassy terrain, the trees, and the distant backdrop with a smaller building, contributing to the dreamlike atmosphere of the painting. The cats are depicted with individual character and are presented in various activities and poses, which may symbolize aspects of feline nature or broader themes within Varo’s symbolic repertoire. The entire composition is infused with a magical realism that is characteristic of Varo’s work, inviting viewers to explore a surreal narrative that transcends reality.
