Simpatía (La Rabia del Gato) by Remedios Varo (Interpretation and Analysis)

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Simpatía (La Rabia del Gato)
Source: Christie’s
Art including cats is my favorite kind of art, so today I want to show you an extraordinary painting entitled Simpatía (La Rabia del Gato), which translates to The Madness of the Cat. The painting is one of the great masterpieces of Remedios Varo, a Spanish-Mexican artist who was one of the leaders of the Mexican Surrealist movement.

Varo is well-known for her strange, otherworldly paintings, populated by a world of mysterious figures engaged in bizarre, ritualistic acts. La Rabia del Gato is a fine example of her style. The piece depicts an orange figure with flamelike hair in a grey robe; the figure caresses an orange cat, who seems to levitate above the table. The cat has seemingly knocked over a glass of water, which has turned into a tiny ocean on the floor. A network of sparkling, golden dots glimmers above them, connected by shining filaments.

This constellation-like design represents the loving energy that passes between the cat and its companion, a physical representation of the energy that animates the painting. The golden dots might also be a nod to the flamelike appearance of the cat and the humanoid figure, a reference to the fact that cats are associated with sun and fire in mythology.

It is a rather charming painting, a whimsical piece that evokes a sense of magic and mysticism. However, the exact meaning and significance of the painting is unclear. What is clear is the sense of joy and peace that the piece contains, an image that resonates with cat lovers everywhere.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

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