A View in Wales 1911

James McBey made this etching titled 'A View in Wales'. McBey's work presents a romanticized vision of rural life, one that largely overlooks the social realities of early 20th-century Wales. We see tranquil landscapes and a quiet simplicity. But what stories are absent from this view? Where are the signs of industrialization and the labor that shaped this landscape? Consider, too, the perspective from which this view is offered. As a Scottish artist, McBey was looking at Wales through an outsider's eyes, framing a vision of Welsh identity that perhaps catered to an audience outside of Wales. This invites questions about cultural representation, about who has the right to depict a place and its people, and about the power dynamics inherent in looking. While the scene is quiet, it's important to consider the complexities of place, identity, and representation.