Gun Fire, Mount of Olives 1921

Curator: "Gun Fire, Mount of Olives" is an etching created in 1921 by the Scottish artist James McBey. What strikes you first about this piece? Editor: The mood is intense. It feels like an expressionist landscape with a somber quality, mostly defined by dramatic strokes and chiaroscuro. Curator: The landscape you are referring to, that's Jerusalem seen from the Mount of Olives during a time of significant geopolitical tension in Palestine. McBey served as an official war artist, witnessing firsthand the complexities of the British Mandate. This work is far more than a rendering of the landscape; it’s steeped in the politics of the era, resonating with colonial history and the burgeoning conflict. Editor: From a formal perspective, observe how the artist employs radiating lines to convey light and perhaps even movement. The composition divides the pictorial space unevenly. Most striking is the large, shrouded, towering form that could possibly serve to unite foreground, middle and background— Curator: I see this towering shape not just as a formal device, but as a representation of a dominant presence, perhaps an allusion to a dominating colonial power. McBey created this image a few years after the Balfour Declaration. It changed the game and made the landscape into the center of political debate and discourse. The sharp contrasts certainly amplify that political climate. Editor: I would agree. It has a profound visual tension to it. And this can be observed in how McBey utilized etching techniques to achieve these effects. The linework isn't uniform; some areas are deeply etched, while others are faint. Curator: Absolutely. We have to consider how this contributes to the narrative and social contexts behind the work. This variability signifies instability and change, and perhaps it acts as a metaphor to underscore the profound shifts in the region brought about by colonial intervention and the violent military conflict happening right in that space at the time. Editor: A close study of "Gun Fire, Mount of Olives" shows a masterful exercise in conveying atmosphere through line and tone. Curator: Considering McBey’s own involvement as a war artist, this print is deeply entangled with the political history of early 20th century Palestine. I believe it urges us to reflect critically on our current times.