Brighton Beach, with a Horse Turning a Capstan 1824

Editor: This is John Constable’s "Brighton Beach, with a Horse Turning a Capstan." There isn’t a date for it, but it's held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a really busy scene, almost chaotic, yet there's a quiet feel to it too. What stands out to you? Curator: Ah, Constable! A master of capturing the everyday. For me, it’s the light. Notice how it dances across the water, softening the hard labor of the men and that magnificent horse? It's like he's not just showing us Brighton, but also the fleeting beauty of a working life. The horse is turning the capstan and a group of men are working on the boats, it’s a glimpse of his own experience. Editor: That's lovely, the fleeting beauty of working life. It's easy to overlook the horse but once you’ve said it I can’t stop looking at it! Curator: Exactly! Constable’s eye finds the extraordinary in the ordinary. It's a reminder to appreciate the simple moments, the unsung heroes. Editor: I’m so glad you pointed that out, I wouldn’t have seen that otherwise! Curator: My pleasure! Now, go forth and find the poetry in the everyday.