Insomnia by Remedios Varo

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Insomnia
Source: Remedios-Varo.com
It can be tempting to think that all art represents the feelings of the artist. The idea that art is the physical manifestation of thoughts and ideas that are unique to the artist is tantalizing; however, for many artists this is not the case. Commissions and patronage make up a large part of the art market. For example, in the 1940s Spanish-Mexican artist Remedios Varo—who was one of the leaders of the Surrealist movement—was hired by the drug company Bayer to produce an illustration that would help to sell their sleeping pills.

The result was one of Varo’s early masterpieces: Insomnia. The piece depicts a matrix of dark rooms illuminated only by a single candle. Strange, glassy winged insects flap through the rooms as disembodied eyes look on. The flat, colorless style is not typical of Varo’s work, but it serves to illustrate the colorless misery of insomnia. The painting conjures a sense of uneasiness and distress that aligns well with the description of insomnia that accompanied the paintings: “Sensing that someone has been observing them, they open tired eyelids, searching the nocturnal shadows! Undefined anxiety fills the solitude of dark, dry rooms, devoid of warmth.”

Within Insomnia, Varo makes these constantly vigilant eyes manifest, staring at the sleepless sufferer out of the darkness. The endless succession of doors and the limitless space they create also cause visual discomfort, conveying the idea that something unpleasant lurks in the dark. The door is an important symbol in Surrealist art, standing in for both endings and beginnings as well as various other complex emotional states. Although I don’t suffer with Insomnia, I know enough about it to think that this painting offers an accurate visualization of the condition.

One of the best things about art is that it can give a face to intangible feelings, thoughts, and states of being. Although Surrealism didn’t pioneer this aspect of visual art, it is certainly one of the most expressive and versatile styles, lending itself to a wide range of contemplative visual projects. Without a doubt, Insomnia is one of Varo’s most poignant pieces in this regard.

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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