The Dean Bridge, Edinburgh 1904

James McBey created this etching of the Dean Bridge in Edinburgh with a masterful control of the needle to create a monochromatic and atmospheric scene. I can almost feel McBey, bent over the plate, scratching and biting, losing himself in the inky depths. He’s building up this network of tiny marks to conjure a whole world of light and shadow. And it makes me wonder, what was it like to stand where he stood, looking up at that grand bridge? The arches loom overhead, and the figures huddle together, maybe seeking shelter from the rain. You can sense their presence through the simple marks that evoke their form. There’s such a stillness here, but also a sense of movement in the water, the light. I love how McBey lets the ink pool in some areas, creating these rich, velvety blacks. In others, he wipes it away, revealing the paper beneath and creating a sense of ethereal lightness. Artists are always in dialogue with each other, and I see McBey nodding to masters like Whistler and Rembrandt, yet forging his own unique path. This etching is like a little poem, full of quiet beauty.