Dieppe 1924

James McBey made this watercolor painting, Dieppe, most likely en plein air, sometime in the early twentieth century. Look at the muted, greyish-brown washes and the way they bleed into each other. I can imagine McBey outside with his watercolor set, quickly trying to capture the scene before the light changed. I wonder if he was thinking of J.M.W. Turner when he painted this—the diffuse light and atmospheric perspective feels like a nod to Turner's seascapes. But McBey’s painting has its own feel too. It's a looser, more immediate kind of seeing. Notice the way he suggests figures and horse-drawn carriages in just a few strokes. It’s like he’s saying, “Here’s the essence of this place, caught in a fleeting moment.” Painters, you know, we're all in conversation with each other, borrowing and riffing on ideas across time. McBey, with his quick brushstrokes and interest in light, is part of this tradition, offering us his own unique view of the world.