Millstone in the Woods c. 1920s

Editor: This is Marsden Hartley’s "Millstone in the Woods," created around the 1920s. It's an ink drawing with such strong lines. I find the contrast between the rough, almost violent strokes in the trees and the smooth curve of the millstone really striking. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: It's a potent image, isn't it? Considering Hartley’s broader oeuvre, particularly his grappling with American identity in the early 20th century, I see this drawing as deeply rooted in that discourse. We see the abandoned millstone as a symbol of a bygone era, overtaken by the imposing, abstracted woods. What do you think that contrast represents in relation to the period it was created in? Editor: Maybe it’s about the industrial age encroaching on nature? Or the struggles of rural communities? I can't tell if Hartley’s celebrating nature's resilience or mourning a lost way of life. Curator: Precisely! It speaks to the anxieties and ambivalences that permeated American society at the time. The millstone, rendered useless in this natural setting, hints at a critique of industrial progress and its impact on rural traditions and landscape. Does knowing this social context impact how you understand this particular millstone? Editor: It really does. I hadn't considered the social commentary, but seeing the millstone as a symbol of change, maybe even loss, adds a new layer of meaning. Thanks! Curator: And thank you. Considering the artwork through a political lens shows how societal changes are absorbed and echoed within the world of art.