Undergrowth c. 1821

John Constable made this oil painting called "Undergrowth" sometime in the early 19th century. He used traditional materials—pigments and oil, applied with brushes to a canvas support. The painting's dense texture echoes its subject. Constable built up layers of paint to create a thick impasto. The visible brushstrokes emphasize the texture of the natural world. Constable was part of a generation of artists who valued direct observation. The painting mimics nature, using earthy browns, greens, and muted blues to evoke the feel of woodland. Landscape painting was gaining popularity as industrialization transformed the British countryside. There's a clear connection between the labor of the artist and the labor of farm workers. Both were increasingly seen as central to England's identity. By focusing on the materials and processes of its making, we see that "Undergrowth" goes beyond a simple representation of nature. It speaks to broader social and economic shifts in Constable's time.