Mill Ruins along the Hudson c. 1900

John Marin created “Mill Ruins along the Hudson” using graphite on paper. Marin, working in the early 20th century, captured the Hudson River Valley, an area undergoing significant industrial change, and it shows. The sketch presents a poignant view of decaying industrial architecture. Marin's choice to depict ruins evokes a sense of loss. We see the remnants of mills which once were centers of economic activity but now stand as ghostly relics. Marin once said, "The true artist must perforce go from time to time to the elemental big forms." The ruins can be seen as a metaphor for broader societal shifts. His sketch captures the emotional weight of witnessing economic transformation and considering our own relationship to progress and decay.