The Thames Barge Race: The "Sarah" Winning 1935

Curator: The dynamism captured in this print, "The Thames Barge Race: The 'Sarah' Winning," created by James McBey in 1935, is really striking. It immediately evokes a sense of competition and the sheer power of the wind. Editor: Yes, there's a lot to unpack there. The tonal range achieved just through line work is incredible. The textural rendering of the water alone could warrant extended study! Curator: The composition is quite clever, isn't it? McBey uses a horizontal format, and the receding sizes of the barges effectively convey depth, creating a sense of vastness on the river. Of course, the subject, barge races, were a popular spectacle in England during that time, drawing considerable crowds and representing a slice of working-class leisure culture. Editor: The materiality of the ink becomes extremely interesting to note, its presence accentuating line variations across the surface, almost like waves of the Thames, really adds a tangible element to what could’ve easily been rendered in much more plain way. I wonder, does this particular print capture the atmosphere of intense competition amongst laborers during the 30s? It really does seem evocative of movement in that time. Curator: Perhaps it represents a visual document of the increasing interest of workers and industries coming together for entertainment in their down time during a challenging time. It is tempting to infer certain nationalistic undertones from this type of work too! There's an almost palpable feeling of...Englishness associated with it, wouldn't you agree? The subject speaks to traditions, community. Editor: Yes, definitely. Beyond its socio-historical importance, one simply appreciates its artistic value when studying this composition. The relationship of the vessels to the turbulent water below, and the sky above are all cleverly articulated across the horizontal plain. Each aspect brings new perspectives into conversation around art history through to the art object itself. Curator: I'm inclined to agree. Thank you for pointing this out. There's definitely more to the piece, and these insights can certainly guide us to look at McBey's work from new angles in future.