Hopewell Valley Sun 1959

Walter Darby Bannard created this striking painting, ‘Hopewell Valley Sun,’ using simple forms. Dominating the canvas is a large red circle, an age-old symbol of the sun. Historically, the sun is a life-giver, a deity, and an emblem of power. Recall ancient Egypt, where Ra, the sun god, ruled supreme. Or consider Mithras, the Persian deity whose cult spread through the Roman Empire, depicted rising from a rock, a symbol of light emerging from darkness. Even in contemporary Japan, the sun remains a powerful national symbol, resonating across art, culture, and collective identity. The circle’s unyielding form evokes feelings of warmth and vitality. It is a primal symbol triggering deep-seated psychological responses. Like a Jungian archetype, the sun embodies the self, radiating energy and asserting its presence in an endless cycle, reminding us how symbols evolve, adapt, and resurface, connecting our past to our present.