Deserted Mill c. 1885

Curator: Stephen Parrish created "Deserted Mill" around 1885, a captivating example of the etching print medium currently residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: It’s immediately striking—the delicate tonal range creates such a still, contemplative mood. A lone, dark bird flies silently. Curator: Note the subtle mastery with which Parrish handles the etched line to establish atmospheric perspective. The reflections in the water create symmetry and depth, furthering a somber theme. Editor: The location of such a mill, presumably rural, gives the work meaning. Rural communities at the time, late 19th century, would have relied on mills. One that is deserted could indicate economic shift. Perhaps abandonment due to industrialization. Curator: That may well be so. Considering Parrish’s meticulous use of the etching needle, we see varying densities of lines, carefully constructed. Lighter in the sky, growing dense towards the undergrowth in the water, establishing space. The structural clarity is impeccable. Editor: What do you make of the deserted nature of the composition? It isn’t only aesthetically composed of structured line and depth. The lack of activity seems crucial. There isn’t labor taking place, signaling a possible socio-economic narrative. Curator: You point towards a possible meaning I previously overlooked. Through his compositional expertise and employment of formalist tools, I assumed the work to simply stand on its aesthetic achievements alone, creating meaning through structure and texture alone. I see now that one need not dismiss its potential social implications. Editor: I appreciate how Parrish weaves this abandoned building with water as a way of gesturing toward both change and endurance. The implications are now impossible to ignore. Curator: Indeed. Considering the possible meanings woven into this scene alters one's reading of this particular piece, as it resides within the gallery space itself. The meaning and effect expand outward.