Arkwright’s Mill 1878

Editor: This quick sketch, "Arkwright's Mill" by Ford Madox Brown, shows the skeletal structure of industrial machinery. The texture almost feels like the rough brick and heavy wood. What does this drawing say to you? Curator: Well, it is a study of the engine of production. Consider the labor it represents. The mill itself, a testament to industrial processes, and the drawing, made with Brown's labor using pencil on paper. Editor: So, the materials and the making become the subject? Curator: Precisely. The means of production, both industrial and artistic, become visible. We're forced to consider the social context embedded within this sketch of Arkwright's Mill. Editor: That gives me a lot to consider about the connection between art and industry.