Haywain Analysis

Haywain Analysis

The Haywain by John Constable is truly a 2-D masterpiece! The combination of elements and principles produces a composition like no other. Constable creates space through atmospheric perspective and overlapping. As we move farther into the background, the trees get smaller and the colors are less intensified through the effect of sfumato. Chiaroscuro can be seen as the light dictates value, creating an illusion of depth. Overlapping occurs when trees are in front of each other throughout the painting. The artist is also able to implement the usage of lines. Vertical lines can be seen in the trees, curved lines are seen in the water, horizontal lines are seen in the vast land in the middle ground, and finally, there is a slight diagonal line as the cart moves into the water. Shapes can also be seen in this picture. An organic shape seen can be the outline of the trees and the house contains many geometric shapes such as the parallelogram in the roof. Texture is also witnessed in the painting. Visual texture is in the effects of where, Constable, was able to capture a rough and dirty ground but also through different effects, capture water as ideally wet. Value is also used effectively, for example, the some clouds are made to look darker(shaded) and others are made to look lighter(tinted). Cast shadows can be seen in the background as a few trees have shadows. Constable mastered the use of color in the Haywain. Monochromatic colors are seen in the clouds as some are darker than others. Warm colors can be slightly seen in the foreground where the oxen are pulling the cart. Cool colors are seen in the sky and clouds. Neutral colors can be seen in the background around the trees andThe in the negative space. Constable uses the principle of emphasis through the dark clouds and the lighter clouds. One can predict a storm may come through the details of the clouds. The contrast is also seen in the dark clouds