The Fountain, Holyrood 1904 - 1905

James McBey made this etching, The Fountain, Holyrood, around 1905. The process feels very immediate. You can almost see him mapping the world with tight, wriggly marks. What strikes me is how McBey uses this layering effect to create depth and texture. Look at the fountain itself. The quick, repetitive lines almost mimic the constant movement of water, capturing its essence. He's not just representing a fountain, but the feeling of a fountain. It’s not just about what's there, but how it feels to be there, watching the water, feeling the dampness in the air. This reminds me of Whistler, another master of etching. Both artists had an amazing ability to say so much with a minimum of marks. Ultimately, art is about a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas. McBey is right there in the mix, showing us his world through a web of lines.