A Norman Port 1916

James McBey made 'A Norman Port' with etching, and it’s all about the line. See how the marks are not really descriptive but more like a feeling? Like you can sense the wind, the scale of the land. He uses these long, sweeping lines to pull us into the scene. It’s not about a perfect representation. It’s more like a translation of what it feels like to be there, the scratchy textures hinting at the ruggedness of the landscape. There's a section where the lines on the hillside become more frenetic, almost like the land is breathing or shivering. I'm thinking of the work of Whistler. Whistler was interested in how you could convey atmosphere and subjective experience through very economical means. Both artists share this interest in not just depicting a scene but really trying to get at an emotional truth. For me, art is not about certainty, but about exploring possibilities.