Jerusalem from Olivet 1921

James McBey made this etching, Jerusalem from Olivet, using delicate lines to capture a panoramic view. It’s fascinating how an artist approaches a scene, deciding what to emphasize, what to leave out, right? The first thing that grabs me here is the texture. McBey scratches these tiny lines into the plate, creating a kind of shimmering effect. Look at how the lines build up to define the city on the hill, then dissolve into the open space of the foreground. There’s a sense of air and light, achieved with such minimal means. That little cluster of huts there in the lower left – they’re so roughly sketched, almost childlike. But then you see the city itself, rendered with incredible detail. It’s like McBey is showing us two different ways of seeing, both equally valid. I think of Whistler, with his moody, atmospheric prints of Venice, but McBey has his own distinctive voice. Art’s an ongoing conversation, right? And these prints, they invite us to listen in.