John Constable ⁽²⁾

John Constable was the painter who brought the countryside to life and made clouds look like they were having an existential conversation. Best known for his sweeping landscapes of the English countryside, Constable's paintings are like a love letter to rural life—though with fewer awkward moments and more majestic skies. While other artists were busy with grand historical subjects, Constable had his head in the clouds—quite literally. His iconic The Hay Wain, for example, doesn’t just show a cart in a river; it shows a perfectly choreographed dance between nature, light, and the sublime, with the clouds hanging overhead as though they’re pondering deep philosophical questions.

Despite being dismissed by some as a bit too "simple" early on, Constable went on to prove that capturing the beauty of the ordinary could be revolutionary. He loved to paint the English weather, which, if you've ever been to England, means he spent a lot of time studying clouds (and probably muttering under his breath about the wind). While his works were initially seen as charming but unimportant, Constable eventually became one of the most celebrated landscape painters, paving the way for future generations of artists who, let’s be honest, probably just wanted to paint as many skies as he did.