Zero - A Sixty-five Pounder Opening Fire 1920

This etching by James McBey captures a scene of warfare, focusing on the labor-intensive process of firing a sixty-five pounder. The printmaking process itself is significant. Etching involves coating a metal plate with wax, drawing into the wax to expose the metal, and then submerging the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. Wiping the plate leaves ink only in these grooves, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure. The resulting image, with its delicate lines and tonal variations, speaks volumes about the material world it depicts. Look at the contrast between the heavy machinery of the cannon and the light rendering of the sky. The dense network of lines conveying the grim task at hand, and the immense weight of the weaponry contrasts sharply with the seemingly weightless sky. McBey masterfully conveys the physicality of war, and reminds us of the human effort behind the tools of destruction.