Logie Buchan Ferry 1905

James McBey made this etching of Logie Buchan Ferry without colour, just lines, hatching, and cross-hatching. It's all about the process, watching the lines build up to create shapes, light, and depth. The magic of this piece really lies in its texture. Look at the sky, so light and airy, made with the finest, barely-there lines. Then drop down to the scrubby plants to the lower right, and the rippling water, where the lines are dense and create a sort of visual buzz. The path is great too. Each stone is its own little rectangle, laid down to lead your eye right into the heart of the scene. It reminds me a little of Whistler's etchings, but McBey has his own thing going on. He seems to be saying that art is a conversation, not a lecture. It's always more about asking questions than giving answers.