John Knox's House 1904 - 1905

This is James McBey’s etching of John Knox’s House, a work that invites us to consider how historical narratives are constructed and remembered. McBey, working in the early 20th century, captures the architectural presence of the house, a site laden with religious and national significance in Scottish history. John Knox, a central figure in the Scottish Reformation, lived in this Edinburgh house in the mid-16th century. His radical Protestant theology challenged existing power structures, deeply influencing Scotland’s religious and political identity. McBey's etching subtly invokes the weight of this history, presenting the house as a physical embodiment of Knox's enduring impact. The somewhat obscured view and detailed rendering create a sense of being both present in the scene and distant from the events that transpired within those walls. As you consider this image, reflect on the ways in which buildings and places become vessels for collective memory, and how they shape our understanding of the past.