Bilboa c. 1925 - 1930

This muted and atmospheric print of Bilboa was made by Muirhead Bone in the early twentieth century. Can you imagine him, perched on a balcony overlooking this bustling scene? I can almost feel the scratch of his etching needle on the plate. Look how he’s created depth with those close hatched lines that recede into the distance. I imagine he’s thinking about light as much as form, capturing the way it softens the edges of buildings and vehicles. You can see the influence of Whistler in the poetic way Bone treats an everyday subject. But there's also something uniquely his. Maybe it's the way he finds beauty in the industrial landscape, or the quiet dignity he gives to the figures hurrying below. It makes me want to pick up a pencil and try to capture a fleeting moment myself. It is a reminder that we all have a unique voice and vision.