Cliffs on the Guadalupe 

Robert Julian Onderdonk's painting captures the Guadalupe River bathed in the golden light of Texas. Notice how the cliffs and water seem to glow, creating an ethereal vision. Light, as a symbol, is ancient. We see it in the halos of religious figures, representing enlightenment and divine presence. Think of the sun god Ra in ancient Egypt, or Apollo in Greek mythology, both embodying the life-giving power of light. This is a universal symbol, reappearing across cultures, each adapting it to their own spiritual needs. Here, the play of light is not merely decorative; it evokes a feeling of spiritual awakening. Onderdonk's use of light speaks to our primal attraction to the sun, stirring deep within our subconscious a longing for warmth, safety, and renewal. It acts as a cyclical reminder of nature's eternal dance of illumination and shadow, which has resonated through the ages.