Loch Eil 1929 - 1930

David Young Cameron made this etching, Loch Eil, using a painstaking process of layering lines to create a hazy and serene view. Can you imagine him, bent over the plate, slowly building up the image? There's such subtlety here in the tones, achieved through tiny, controlled marks. It reminds me of Whistler's atmospheric landscapes, where less is so much more. Look at the way Cameron suggests the distant hills and the reflections on the water—it's all so delicate, like a whispered secret. The boats feel still and silent, like they’re holding their breath. I wonder if he was trying to capture a fleeting moment, a particular quality of light. As an artist, you’re always chasing that feeling, that perfect balance. We’re all in conversation with each other, across time, trying to figure out how to make something that sings.