The artwork titled “Mimicry” is a symbolic painting by Remedios Varo, a renowned artist within the Surrealist movement. Her work is celebrated for its imaginative compositions and thought-provoking themes.
In “Mimicry,” we observe a solitary figure seated on a chair facing a mirror. The figure reveals an uncanny blend of human and animal characteristics, with an owl-like face and butterfly ears, a motif resonant with Varo’s fascination with metamorphosis and the boundaries between species. The room depicted is sparse yet contains elements of bourgeois comfort—a mirror, chair, and floor resembling polished wood.
The palette is muted, composed of earthy tones that convey a sense of warmth and mystery. The figure’s robe and the furniture are patterned, suggesting a textural richness in an otherwise restrained setting. Of particular note is the tail-like form, which stretches from the figure’s head, giving the impression that it has detached and taken on a life of its own, floating ethereally in the room and casting a peculiar shadow. A trapdoor sits ominously open on the floor, revealing another eye that gazes upward, further enhancing the sense of surreal surveillance and introspection within the artwork.
The atmosphere evoked is laden with symbolism and invites viewers to contemplate themes of identity, transformation, and the inner psyche—an indication of the depth and complexity at the heart of Remedios Varo’s Surrealist legacy.
