Landscape. girl on left bank of stream, which flows down to foreground; two tall trees at right; factory chimney and houses behind a forest in the background

The Mill Stream, Montclair, New Jersey, c. 1888

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Oil on canvasexpand_more

Gift of Don and Diana Lee Luckerexpand_more  2000.236

Not on Viewexpand_more

When George Inness moved to Montclair, New Jersey in 1878, his new surroundings of brooks, meadows, farms and woods became the inspiration for the remainder of the artist's career. Another element in the midst of this natural beauty was the printing company owned by Samuel Crump, the tower and chimney of which appear in the background of The Mill Stream, Montclair, New Jersey.

Today, this scene might be taken as a critique of industrialism, of factories encroaching on nature. At the time, however, the printing plant on the stream’s bank was viewed as a wonderful technological advancement, even a “civilizing” enhancement of the natural landscape. Inness’s loose brushwork gives the image a dreamlike quality.

Details
Title
The Mill Stream, Montclair, New Jersey
Artist Life
1825 - 1894
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2000.236
Catalogue Raisonne
Ireland, 932.
Curator Approved

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Landscape. girl on left bank of stream, which flows down to foreground; two tall trees at right; factory chimney and houses behind a forest in the background