Sawmill of M. Maire 1825

Théodore Rousseau created this pencil drawing of ‘Sawmill of M. Maire’. Here, we see the rough-hewn marks of the artist’s pencil, mirroring the ruggedness of the industrial scene itself. Look closely at the laid lines, creating a sense of depth and texture, as if Rousseau wants us to feel the coarseness of the stone and timber. The sawmill is not presented as a triumph of engineering, but as a place of hard, physical labor. The drawing's starkness conveys the sheer effort required to transform raw materials into lumber. We see the social context of production, reflecting the relationship between natural resources and the process of industrialisation. It invites us to consider the human cost of progress, and the transformation of the landscape through labor. By focusing on these materials and processes, Rousseau elevates the everyday into the realm of art. He challenges us to see the value and significance in the places where things are made.