Flatford Mill from a Lock on the Stour 1811

John Constable's "Flatford Mill from a Lock on the Stour" (1811) is a classic example of the artist's signature style known as "plein air" painting. The painting, which depicts a picturesque mill and the Stour River, is rendered with a loose brushstroke, capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. The composition is characterized by a sense of depth, with the meandering river leading the viewer's eye to the distant horizon. Constable's mastery of color and detail gives the painting a vivid and lifelike quality, making it a quintessential representation of the English countryside. The scene, which is one of the most iconic in British art history, was painted near Constable's birthplace in Suffolk, England. The painting is currently housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.