Helmingham Hollow – painting by JOHN CONSTABLE
This canvas by the landscape painter John Constable is an excellent example of the painting of English romanticism, of which the artist is a representative. It awakens in the soul of the viewer a swarm of sensations and memories, makes you think about the eternal values and the transience of life. But in the work of Constable there is no drama, no sense of hopelessness and doom of human existence.

The twilight, lurking in the shade of the old trees of the hollow, is ready to dispel: through the branches and trunks, gaps of the blue sky with rushing clouds are visible. A wooden footbridge is thrown from coast to coast, facilitating the way for travelers. The water sparkles with sunshine.
Unlike his contemporaries, who painted fictional landscapes, Constable paid much attention to observing nature and writing sketches. He studied natural lighting and various atmospheric conditions, anticipating the later searches of painters. His art found understanding on the other side of the English Channel, while at home it remained practically unclaimed.