Penzance 1913

James McBey made this etching, Penzance, sometime in the early 20th century, using delicate lines to capture a harbor scene. I love the way he’s built up the image, almost like he’s sketching with the printing plate. Look closely at the water, how it shimmers with vertical strokes, reflecting the ships and the sky. You can almost feel the stillness of the water, broken only by the gentle ripples around the boats. See that sailing boat just off center? The detail he's put into the rigging contrasts beautifully with the hazy outline of the buildings in the background. It reminds me a little of Whistler’s prints, the way he uses atmospheric perspective to create depth and a sense of place. But McBey has a touch more grit, a rawness that feels very contemporary. It’s a reminder that art is always in conversation with itself, each artist building on what came before, pushing it in new directions.