Clouds 

John Constable painted these clouds, with oil on paper, capturing not just their visual form, but their dynamic, transformative power. The clouds, ever-shifting, have long symbolized the transient nature of existence, a theme deeply rooted in human consciousness. Consider the Renaissance depictions of the Madonna enthroned, often set against a backdrop of billowing clouds, elevating her divinity. Or the storm clouds in Romantic paintings, mirroring the inner turmoil of the human spirit. Even in ancient mythologies, clouds are the abodes of gods, shapeshifting and enigmatic. Constable's focus on the sky and its ever-changing conditions invites us to contemplate the non-linear progression of these atmospheric symbols, reminding us that what we see is never fixed but perpetually becoming, constantly evolving in our collective memory.