Enkhuisen Harbour 1910

Editor: This is James McBey's "Enkhuisen Harbour," an etching from 1910. The sepia tones give it a somewhat nostalgic feeling, and the reflections in the water add such incredible detail. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It’s fascinating how McBey uses line here, isn't it? Look at how the reflections aren't just literal copies. The emotional memory of light and water transforms into abstracted, almost calligraphic marks. He’s not just showing us a harbour, he’s showing us how a harbour *feels*. The two figures in the foreground... who are they? Editor: Fishermen, perhaps? It feels like a working harbor. Curator: Exactly. And what do harbours symbolize? Journeys, departures, returns... the human drama played out against the backdrop of the sea. Note the bridge in the background. It points beyond the harbour itself. Enkhuisen becomes a stage, where specific memories can crystallize into broader human narratives. The textures of daily existence interwoven. Does it evoke a particular narrative to you? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way, but now I see how the etching style itself, with its delicate lines, suggests the ephemerality of those narratives. Things shift and fade over time like the etching might! Curator: Precisely! This isn't just a picture of a place; it is a visual repository of feelings, memories and echoes—a cultural echo chamber. Editor: I agree completely. Now I notice how this print captures a moment in time, but also hints at timeless themes. Thank you!