Direct observation of nature lay at the heart of Constable’s ethos and practice. He would take his equipment outdoors to capture the varied qualities of light through the swaying trees and the shapes of clouds forming and dissipating. This painting depicts his homeland in rural Suffolk. In the foreground, young boys fish in the river, echoing Constable’s desire to see the world with the eyes of a child. Although sometimes described as a sketch, this canvas is in fact a full-scale preparatory prototype. Never intended for public display, the work allowed Constable to perfect the overall effect of his composition, and to achieve the balance of light and dark that was so important to him, before embarking on his final version. Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2025
