The Messenger Returns 

David Michael Bowers painted “The Messenger Returns” with an angel on a cliffside. The angel, with its white wings and dress, carries a complex symbolic weight. Angels, traditionally divine messengers, are often depicted in serene contemplation, as we see here. The visual language of angels is deeply rooted in cultural memory. Think of classical Greek art, where winged figures like Nike symbolize victory, or the Renaissance cherubs representing divine love. Our angel’s contemplative pose echoes depictions of melancholic figures throughout art history—from Dürer’s "Melancholia I" to Romantic figures contemplating nature. The cliffside setting further adds to this sense of introspection, evoking feelings of solitude and reflection. It invites viewers to engage with the image on a subconscious level, tapping into our collective understanding of angels as intermediaries between worlds. This symbol has reappeared, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.