The Ford 1913

James McBey made this etching, The Ford, using delicate lines and a monochrome palette, it's almost like a whisper on paper. For me, artmaking is a conversation with the materials, and McBey seems to be having a quiet, thoughtful one here. Look at the way he uses tiny, precise marks to create this vast landscape, the figures in the distance, and the two camels standing near the edge of the frame. You can almost feel the heat shimmering off the sand. The texture is smooth, almost like vellum, and the lines feel etched, precise, and very sure of themselves. Note, for instance, the rendering of the man’s head in the foreground, the quick hatching marks that give the illusion of volume and shadow. McBey was a master of light and shadow, and like Whistler, he uses them to create a mood of tranquility and contemplation. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to shout; sometimes, the quietest voices are the most profound.