Beggars, Tetuan, No.2 1912

James McBey created this etching, Beggars, Tetuan, No.2, using fine lines to build tone, like a drawing in ink. It's all about process, the way the image emerges from a network of tiny marks. The texture is amazing, isn't it? Look at how he uses the density of the lines to create depth. The archway behind the beggars is almost swallowed by shadow, a solid mass built from a million tiny strokes. Then, notice how those lines scatter and fade to create the dusty ground. Each mark feels deliberate, a tiny decision adding to the whole. The way McBey uses line reminds me of Piranesi, but with a softer touch. Ultimately, it's this kind of layering and mark-making that makes the image so compelling, a conversation between light and dark, presence and absence. And in the end, aren’t we all just beggars in one way or another?