Farnham's Mill at St. Anthony Falls 1888

Alexis Jean Fournier created "Farnham's Mill at St. Anthony Falls" using oil on canvas. Immediately, one notices the composition's structured arrangement: the cascading waterfall in the foreground, the rocky mid-ground, and the mill anchoring the background. Fournier’s brushwork is deliberately visible, lending the piece a sense of immediacy. The painting uses a muted palette of browns, greys, and greens, evoking a sense of industrial grit, but also harmony with nature. The strong horizontal lines of the mill contrast with the dynamic verticality of the waterfall, setting up a visual tension that mirrors the industrial era. The textures—rough stone, flowing water, and weathered wood—are meticulously rendered, creating a tactile experience for the viewer. This contrast between organic and man-made forms serves to create new meanings that challenge fixed ideas. The composition captures the changing landscape of the industrial era. It acts as a semiotic marker which reflects the transition of urban expansion and the growth of industrialization.