Rowallon 1929

James McBey made this watercolor painting, Rowallon, on paper with gentle washes of pigment. I imagine McBey outside, squinting against the light, trying to capture the feel of the landscape in front of him. There's a balance between observation and interpretation in this piece. The thinness of the paint creates a sense of light and airiness. Look how he's used subtle variations in tone to suggest the undulations of the land, and the shifting light in the sky. That lone figure on the road, almost dissolving into the landscape, adds a touch of mystery. Is McBey thinking about transience? About humanity’s place within this landscape? His approach reminds me of other artists working at the time, experimenting with light and atmosphere. Artists like McBey are part of an ongoing conversation, each one building on the ideas of those who came before, and inspiring those who will follow.