The Timber Mill 1913

James McBey made this etching, The Timber Mill, using fine lines and a simple palette of blacks and whites, giving the scene a sketched, immediate feel. It's as if McBey grabbed his tools and quickly captured the essence of the moment, that feeling of being right there in the middle of a working mill. I’m drawn to the way the light spills into the open doorway. See how the lines become lighter and sparser, suggesting not just light but also space and air. It’s almost like the etching itself breathes, expanding from the dense, dark machinery to the open sky beyond. The contrast is so striking, and it gives the print depth and a sense of place. This reminds me a bit of Whistler’s prints, you know? That same attention to atmosphere and light, turning an everyday scene into something poetic and profound. And, like all great art, it’s not just about what you see, but how it makes you feel.