Repairing a Barge 1914

James McBey made this print, "Repairing a Barge," probably in the early 20th century, using etching. You can tell because the lines have a particular bite and crispness. It’s like the image is built from countless tiny, energetic scratches. I love how the texture of the paper becomes part of the scene, especially in the sky and water. The lines are not just describing the objects, they're creating a whole atmosphere. Look at the way he suggests the mud and the reflections on the water with just a few, quick strokes. It’s less about perfect representation and more about capturing the feeling of the place. There's a beautiful contrast between the busyness of the foreground with all the activity around the barge, and the calm, open space of the water and the distant city. It reminds me a little of Whistler's prints, that same interest in capturing a sense of place with such economy of means, finding beauty in the everyday. With etching the process is always visible, and that’s part of the point: art as a record of its own making.