Bridge near Leith 1905

Curator: Let's discuss James McBey's 1905 etching, "Bridge near Leith." I find the tonal range quite striking for an etching, creating a rich atmospheric perspective. What's your initial impression? Editor: It feels melancholic to me, almost ghostly. The figures walking across the bridge seem like fleeting shadows against the weight of that dark structure. It evokes a sense of transience. Curator: Indeed. McBey made this early in his career, and while influenced by Whistler, it shows his own style emerging. The industrial backdrop, Leith being a port district of Edinburgh, suggests a narrative beyond a mere picturesque landscape. The city was transforming at the time. Editor: Precisely. Thinking about that context—rapid industrialization, urbanization—the stark bridge looms not just as an architectural element, but as a metaphor for connection and division. Who is benefiting from that connection, and who is marginalized? The limited visibility also seems to hint that something obscure is happening behind it, that this connection may only favor some parts of the community, perhaps an elitist one? Curator: The etching technique itself contributes to that feeling. The delicate lines capture both the solidity of the bridge and the ethereal quality of the sky. I'd argue this captures the tensions of early 20th century life through the setting of Scotland. Editor: I agree. Considering the labor involved in constructing such a bridge and the people of Leith and how they interact with it adds layers to this piece. The artist also plays with shadow as an equalizer. The contrast almost renders the buildings on the side unrecognizable to imply uniformity or similarity to certain actors. Curator: McBey had a long and somewhat contradictory career, later becoming a war artist. He seemed attuned to the mood of societies. What lingers with you after considering "Bridge near Leith"? Editor: Its quiet tension remains with me—the unseen stories of Leith’s people under this imposing structure of steel. The ghostly mood continues to stay with me.