The Mill Pond 

Frits Thaulow painted The Mill Pond with oil on canvas at an unknown date. The heavy texture of the paint evokes the rough surfaces of the mill buildings, their tiled roofs, and the water itself, almost obscuring the subject matter. The painting shares much with Impressionism in its subject of everyday life, yet he uses a tonal approach to light and shadow. Thaulow was also interested in the social dynamics of labor, especially how technology was rapidly changing the modes of production. Mills like this one were once the center of industry for many communities. Here, though, it appears quiet, perhaps even derelict. Thaulow’s interest is in its atmosphere and the reflective qualities of the water, leaving us to wonder about the transition from rural industry to a more modern, urbanized world. By focusing on the textures and the interplay of light and shadow, Thaulow elevates the ordinary to the extraordinary, reminding us of the beauty and significance of everyday materials and structures.