Southern White Rhino - Where the Light Breaks
Oil on Canvas,
US$
979
881
|
Southern White Rhino - Where the Light Breaks
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Details
Oil on Canvas
Expressive brushwork, Palette Knife
W: 594mm x H: 841mm x D: 20mm
W: 23" x H: 33" x D: 1"
Approx. Weight: 1kg
This work is
unframed
Price
US$ 881
Scale
Reference
IDA-2026-04
About "Southern White Rhino - Where the Light Breaks"
Southern White Rhino Painting - Where the Light Breaks portrays the quiet dignity of one of Africa's most iconic animals, illuminated by the first light of dawn. Towering above the landscape, the rhino stands with calm confidence, carrying the weight of an ancient lineage that has survived millions of years of natural change. Every fold of its weathered skin speaks of endurance, resilience and the timeless rhythm of the wild.
This painting was inspired by more than the remarkable presence of the Southern White Rhino. It reflects the uneasy balance between hope and vulnerability that surrounds one of Africa's greatest conservation stories. South Africa is home to the world's largest population of Southern White Rhinos, making their protection both a national responsibility and a global conservation priority. While the dawn suggests renewal and possibility, it also reminds us that every new day presents a choice about how we value and protect the natural world.
The warm golden ring of light surrounding the rhino's horn was painted intentionally. At first it appears to honour the animal, almost like a halo celebrating its strength, resilience and ancient dignity. Yet the same light carries a deeper and more uncomfortable meaning. The horn, admired for its beauty and coveted for its perceived value, has become one of the greatest threats to the Southern White Rhino's survival. The light therefore becomes both a symbol of reverence and a reminder of vulnerability, asking whether humanity will choose protection over exploitation.
At the base of the composition, small human figures move almost unnoticed beneath the immense presence of the rhino. Their scale is deliberate. Against the grandeur of this ancient survivor they seem insignificant, yet they carry enormous symbolic weight. They represent humanity standing at a crossroads. We have the power to become guardians of one of Africa's greatest conservation successes, or the force that drives an irreplaceable species closer to extinction. The painting does not portray a poaching incident. Instead, it explores the quiet tension that exists every day between preservation and greed, hope and loss.
Painted entirely in professional artist-grade oils, the artwork combines expressive brushwork with richly layered textures to create depth, atmosphere and movement. Warm ochres, luminous golds and deep charcoal tones draw the eye toward the illuminated horn while revealing the quiet intelligence reflected in the rhino's gaze. The balance between realism and symbolism invites the viewer to look beyond the animal itself and reflect on the fragile relationship between humanity and the natural world.
Where the Light Breaks speaks not only of sunrise, but also of the fragile moment when innocence meets human choice. Every new dawn brings another opportunity to decide what we truly value. Do we value the horn, whose perceived worth has placed an ancient species at risk, or the living animal itself? My hope is that this painting encourages viewers to see beyond the symbol of the horn and recognise the enduring beauty, dignity and irreplaceable value of the Southern White Rhino. It is ultimately a painting about hope--the belief that through awareness, conservation and responsible stewardship, future generations will continue to encounter these magnificent animals where they belong: in the wild.
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View all 24 works by Ida Lombard
About Ida
Ida Lombard is a South African contemporary artist whose work explores light, nature, movement and the emotions hidden within a moment. Her distinctive Abstract Realism combines expressive oil painting, acrylics and mixed media to move beyond literal representation and reveal the atmosphere and feeling within her subjects.
Her connection with art began in childhood, influenced by time spent exploring the natural world and early exposure to the discipline of painting. After formal art studies and more than four decades of continued independent practice, Ida has developed a highly expressive visual language characterised by textured surfaces, energetic brushwork, palette-knife marks, expressive drips and layered colour.
Wildlife, landscapes, seascapes, botanical subjects and portraits recur throughout her work, with themes of light, stillness, vulnerability, endurance, hope and transformation. Rather than simply reproducing what she sees, Ida seeks to capture the spirit of a subject--the quiet tension beneath stillness, the movement within a landscape, or the emotional presence of an animal.
Today, Ida works full-time from her Johannesburg studio, creating original paintings for private collectors in South Africa and internationally. Her work is influenced by the expressive energy of artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Vladimir Volegov, as well as the storytelling power found in South African wildlife art.
Each painting is created as an original work, with professional artist-quality materials and a Certificate of Authenticity.
Price Range
US$ 93-1,546
Email
Exhibitions
Art Festival - 1980
Art in the Park - 2000
Education
Art as a subject with distinction in matric - 1980
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