The Thames Barge Race: The Start 1935

Editor: This etching, titled "The Thames Barge Race: The Start," created by James McBey in 1935, has such a dynamic energy. The boats appear to be battling the waves and the wind. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Beyond the obvious depiction of a race, I see a representation of human ambition against the backdrop of nature's powerful forces. Consider the historical context: the 1930s were a period of immense economic hardship, globally. The image can be viewed through the lens of class struggle— these barges, traditionally working vessels, now engaged in a race. Who participates in such events, and who benefits? Editor: So, you're suggesting the race is almost a metaphor? Curator: Precisely. The very act of transforming working vessels into instruments of sport highlights societal divisions. McBey doesn't just present a scene; he subtly invites us to question the structures that underpin such events. Consider, too, the etching medium itself—the careful labor, the many steps and decisions of a largely solitary artist… Do you find a connection there? Editor: It's interesting, this focus on labour. The effort in creating the print, mirroring the labour of those who operated these barges for workaday needs, not leisure. The social fabric is deeply embedded here. Curator: Indeed! It prompts us to consider whose stories are amplified, and whose are often erased within broader narratives of art and history. And in what ways does this all connect to issues we are currently confronting in the present? Editor: It makes me consider accessibility within art institutions and the stories they tell. This work on the surface seems like an aesthetic exercise, but contains multitudes about humans, then and now. Thank you! Curator: It was a pleasure! I hope this conversation offers a broader understanding of not only James McBey’s print but how the making of art objects sits squarely within society.