The Moonlight Attack, Jelil 1920

"The Moonlight Attack" is a 1920 etching by the Scottish artist James McBey. The artwork portrays a group of soldiers taking cover in a trench, their forms barely visible in the dim light. The composition emphasizes the stark realities of war, depicting the vulnerability and exhaustion of the soldiers. McBey’s depiction of the scene is particularly striking for its use of fine lines and tonal gradations, creating a sense of both intimacy and distance. This etching is a powerful example of McBey’s work, which often explored the themes of war, landscape, and human experience.