In "Sand and Gold", Karlis Dobrajs (1943) combines allegory with precise academic draftsmanship, creating a symbolic vision that unites cosmic time and earthly existence. At the centre of the composition, an immense hourglass dominates the scene, its upper and lower halves rendered in smooth, metallic tones of blue and silver. Within the lower chamber, a golden pyramid glows radiantly, its luminous surface contrasting with the small houses and church spire at its base. The juxtaposition suggests the tension between the infinite and the finite, the eternal and the human.

Dobrajs’ artistic language is rooted in academic clarity — forms are sculptural, volumes carefully modelled, colours nuanced and deliberate. Yet the composition transcends realism: symbolic geometry, monumental scale, and the interplay of light and shadow imbue the work with allegorical depth. The hourglass becomes a metaphor for time, mortality, and transformation, while the pyramid evokes both endurance and spiritual aspiration.

Known for his ability to merge technical mastery with allegorical meaning, Dobrajs often explored mythological, religious, and symbolic themes in his work. "Sand and Gold" is a prime example of his vision — where painting becomes both a meditation on form and a philosophical reflection on human existence.