On The San Antonio River 1910

Robert Julian Onderdonk, sometime in the early 20th century, made this painting with what looks like gentle brushstrokes and a hazy, almost dreamlike palette. It's a scene that feels both specific and universal, like a memory of a place rather than a photograph. Looking closely, you can see how the paint is applied in thin layers, allowing the light to bounce around. The colors are muted, but there's a warmth that radiates from the center, like the sun setting. There's this one spot, right in the middle of the river, where the light hits just right, creating a shimmering effect. It's like a little explosion of energy, grounding the whole composition. Onderdonk's work often captures these quiet, reflective moments in nature, reminding me a little bit of Whistler's nocturnes, but with a distinctly Texan vibe. It's about finding beauty in the everyday and embracing the ambiguity of the world around us.