Malaria 1947

Remedios Varo, a surrealist artist deeply influenced by the societal upheavals of her time, painted “Malaria” using oil on canvas. Her work reflects the anxieties and existential questioning prevalent in the aftermath of World War II and the Spanish Civil War, events that led to her exile in Mexico. The painting invites us into a dreamlike landscape where a magnified mosquito dominates the scene amidst lush vegetation. Varo’s choice to depict such a creature confronts us with themes of disease, vulnerability, and the fragility of life. As a woman artist navigating a male-dominated art world, Varo often explored themes of transformation, confinement, and escape in her work. "I don't think it's strange that I'm interested in the microscopic world. Maybe it's because I myself am so small," she once said, revealing a personal connection to the themes of scale and perspective in her art. “Malaria” becomes a metaphor for the unseen forces that shape our existence, from illness to societal structures. It serves as a reminder of the constant struggle for survival and the search for meaning in a world marked by uncertainty.