In this gowithYamo series, Visualising the Zodiac, we explore ways in which art and astrology meet in an unexpected cosmic crossover. Each month, art historian and writer Melissa Baksh pairs a zodiac sign with a work of art that embodies its essence through its artistic style and tone.
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This month belongs to Taurus, the second astrological sign of the Zodiac. Symbolised by the Bull and known as the anchor of the zodiac, Taurus are known for their practical, dependable and hardworking nature. But do not mistake their calm and collected demeanour for indifference; they also enjoy the finer things in life (they are ruled by Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, after all!) One work which embodies Taurus’ disposition is John Constable’s ‘The Hay Wain’, painted in 1821. Displayed at the National Gallery in London, it is one of Britain’s most loved paintings.
As a fixed Earth sign, Taurus enjoys a deep physical connection to nature, and so this idyllic rural landscape scene could not be more fitting. Celebrated as one of England’s greatest painters, Constable (1776 – 1837) revolutionised the genre of landscape painting at a time when rural life was changing due to rapid industrialisation. Born in Suffolk to miller and merchant parents, here, Constable captures the idealised landscape of his boyhood; the River Stour on the border of Suffolk and Essex. Even though it may appear to be a fairly conventional landscape scene, it was radical for its day; Constable paints with vivid greens, realistic to the natural environment, at a time when artists were typically using brown tones for landscapes, influenced by Old Master paintings.
Monumental in size, this is one of Constable’s “six-footer” paintings. The title refers to the wooden wagon used for transporting cut and dried meadow grass. Here, three horses pull an empty cart across a tree-lined shallow ford to the haymakers at work on the meadow. Whilst Constable’s contemporaries were creating supposedly ‘superior’ history and mythological paintings, Constable focused on less fashionable, ordinary scenes of rural life. Here, the cart moves slowly through the water; there is a distinct lack of urgency, suggesting a harmonious and sustainable relationship with the beloved land, evoking a sense of tranquillity and contentment whilst lamenting a quickly vanishing way of life. This echoes Taurus’ slow and steady approach, their reputation for unwavering patience and their attentiveness to the task at hand.
Although tranquil in tone, this is very much a working – and worked - landscape. Taking a distinctly modern approach, Constable made preliminary sketches in oil paint, which helped him to work out his compositions ahead of time. In this case, this painting was created at great speed from his Hampstead studio from a compilation of preliminary sketches, some going back ten years. It is therefore a highly curated, managed and man-made landscape. The edge of Flatford Mill, which was owned by Constable’s family, is visible on the right, and a house owned by a farmer named Willie Lott lies across the pond. In the distance, people can be seen at work with pitchforks and scythes, gathering hay and loading it onto a wagon. Taureans are known for harvesting the fruits of labour and are notoriously productive beings. The current of work and productivity that flows through the painting is aligned with Taurus’ work ethic and propensity for financial success.
‘The Hay Wain’ was also seen as revolutionary in the way it was painted. Whilst his contemporaries were using smooth and subtle brushstrokes, Constable creates a range of marks and surfaces through free and vigorous brushwork. In particular, the broad handling of the paint is visible in the broken, flickering brushstrokes of the clouds and in his depiction of the leaves and the water, where he has almost audibly scraped paint across the canvas. Taurus are highly sensual beings and will undoubtedly find contentment in the tactility of Constable’s landscape. Leaning into their more luxurious side, Taurus also have a fine eye for detail in the form of textures and colour. Here, Constable has masterfully used accents of colour - such as the pop of crimson red on the horses’ harness bridles - which brings balance to the predominantly green scene.
Innately steadfast, Taurus can also be stubborn creatures. This chimes with the work’s resistance to change; through its attempt to preserve an idyllic rural world, it simultaneously refuses modernity. However, rather than a blasting protest, this resistance is quiet, culminating in a grounded, fully present moment with nature that evokes Taurus’s earthy spirit.
