Thames Side 1928

James McBey created this watercolor painting, Thames Side, sometime in the early 20th century. It captures a bustling scene on the River Thames, lined with factories and ships. The image speaks to the complex relationship between industrial progress and the environment. McBey was a product of his time, when industrialization was rapidly changing the landscape and the social fabric of cities like London. Notice how the artist renders the industrial landscape with the same delicate touch as the water and sky, suggesting an acceptance, if not a celebration, of the changing world. However, we might also read the muted tones and somber atmosphere as an acknowledgement of the darker aspects of industrialization: pollution, displacement, and the exploitation of labor. How does the painting make you feel about the costs and benefits of progress?