The Zuider Zee 1923 - 1924

James McBey made this etching of boats on the Zuider Zee using a metal plate, likely copper or zinc. He would have covered it with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and then scratched his design through it. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. When the plate was inked, the ink was pushed into these grooves, and the surface wiped clean. Finally, the image was transferred to paper under great pressure, resulting in the print we see here. McBey was a master of capturing light and atmosphere through this process. The etched lines vary in depth and thickness, creating a subtle tonal range. Notice how the weight and texture of the lines describe the choppy water and the rough-hewn boats. It's easy to imagine McBey out on the water, sketching these working vessels, and then back in his studio, painstakingly recreating that experience through the labor-intensive process of etching. This print isn't just a picture of boats, it’s a record of a specific place, time, and the artist's engagement with both.