Veere 1923 - 1924

James McBey made this etching, called Veere, at an unknown date. The scene depicts a calm day at the coast, where the sea meets the land. The subject matter connects to the long history of landscape painting in the Netherlands and beyond. McBey was Scottish, but he travelled widely, and here he seems to be referencing the Dutch maritime tradition. We see a distant coastline, with a townscape dominated by a domed church, a tower, and a windmill. To the left, a sailing boat heads out to sea. In the foreground, a woman sits beside a groyne, gazing out at the view. The scene seems peaceful, but the artist's lines are restless, suggesting that the landscape is unstable. It could be seen as a comment on the historical associations of the site as a port for international trade. To understand the image better, we might investigate the economic and social history of the port in question. Only then can we know how this work engages with the politics of place.