The Doorway 1925

James McBey created “The Doorway,” an etching, and it’s all about the dance of light and shadow made with these tiny, deliberate lines. Looking at the reflections in the water, you can see how McBey uses these vertical strokes to create a sense of movement and depth. There’s a real push and pull between what’s solid and what’s fluid, what’s defined and what dissolves. Like a visual poem, the reflections feel almost more substantial than the buildings themselves. He kind of reminds me of Whistler, capturing fleeting moments and turning them into something timeless. His mark making feels like it's not just about depicting a scene, but about feeling it. It's like he's inviting us to step into that doorway, both literally and metaphorically, and explore the possibilities that lie within.