The Grassmarket 1905

Editor: James McBey's 1905 etching, "The Grassmarket," gives us a glimpse into old Edinburgh. It's mostly greyscale, but with so many tones, with densely cross-hatched lines giving form to the buildings. I feel a real sense of movement from the bustle of figures. What stands out to you? Curator: Ah, McBey! What I see here, beyond the bustling scene, is McBey capturing a feeling—a lived moment, steeped in atmosphere. See how the ink itself mimics the smoky, sometimes melancholic, Scottish light? I feel this constant sense of immanence, like anything could happen... do you sense that tension, too? Editor: Absolutely. Especially looking at the sky. It almost looks stormy. It adds a sense of drama to an otherwise everyday scene. But there's so much detail, especially in the architecture. It's fascinating. How did he do it? Curator: His use of drypoint must have captured details, combined with the aquatint. If you consider the history of Grassmarket – public executions, a site of great poverty but also lively trade – you can consider those contrasting ideas in McBey's textures... what do *you* make of that contrast? Editor: That’s interesting... maybe he’s showing how the city carries its history with it? Like you can’t separate the beautiful buildings from the somber past. It feels very layered now, with those two ideas mixed in. Curator: Precisely! That tension – that blend of light and dark, past and present – it makes this so much more than just a cityscape. Don’t you agree? Editor: Definitely. Now I see it's an impression of a city that bears its soul. Curator: Yes, the artist reminds me of this every time I encounter this piece.