Dawnbreak 

Michael Hayes, a 20th-century artist, captured in oil paint an ethereal figure in 'Dawnbreak'. The subject is adorned with a headpiece featuring a diamond-shaped jewel, a symbol often associated with clarity of thought and spiritual insight. A large dark wing shrouds the character with an air of mystery. The jewel motif finds echoes across time and cultures—from the breastplates of high priests to the crowns of monarchs. Consider the Koh-i-Noor diamond, a gem steeped in stories of power and conquest, which is still a source of cultural and political tension. Here, the jewel may reflect a desire for inner illumination, a timeless human quest that surfaces in the collective subconscious. The wing has a double meaning that is both protective and ominous. This contrast engages us at a visceral level. It prompts a deep reflection on the cyclical nature of existence, and the constant negotiation between light and shadow.