The Bridge by Night 1925

James McBey created this etching, "The Bridge by Night," and it’s all about lines, isn't it? Tiny hatch marks everywhere. I can almost feel him hunched over the plate, scratching away. It's kind of a murky scene, and the tonal range is very narrow. It reminds me of Piranesi, of course, but also Whistler’s nocturnes—all these artists playing with light and dark, shadow and form. You can see the bridge, but the whole thing is a bit ghostly, maybe even a dream. I imagine McBey was trying to capture a mood, a feeling of the city at night. Artists are always talking to each other like this, across time, with pictures. I think he did a pretty good job, don't you?