The Pool 1914

James McBey’s etching, *The Pool,* offers a look at London's working waterfront. The image is created by incising lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, then using a press to transfer the image to paper. This printmaking method is pivotal to understanding the artwork. Etching allowed McBey to capture the industrial landscape with intricate detail. The web of lines defines the structures of the docks, boats, and distant factories, conveying the energy of labor and commerce. The material qualities of the etching—its fine lines and tonal variations—contribute to the sense of scale, emphasizing the grandeur of the scene. The artwork itself, therefore, is a document of work, and the process of etching mirrors it. Appreciating the labor-intensive process of etching gives us insight into the artist’s own work, as well as the labor represented in the scene.