The Cowgate, Edinburgh 1904 - 1905

James McBey etched this image of The Cowgate, Edinburgh, using delicate lines and a limited tonal range. It reminds us that art making is a process of translating a vision into something tangible. The texture feels almost like a memory, smudged and indistinct. The blacks are deep, but the overall effect is soft, as if seen through a misty window. Look at the archway; it's not just an architectural feature but a portal, inviting us into the unknown. The way the light filters through, it's almost as if we can smell the damp stone. The figures huddling in the shadows add to the sense of mystery. McBey’s mastery of light and shadow echoes Whistler’s atmospheric studies of London. Both artists embraced ambiguity, reminding us that art is not about definitive answers, but about the questions we ask along the way.