Molo 1925

Editor: This is James McBey's "Molo," an etching from 1925. It feels very atmospheric, almost dreamlike with its delicate lines. All of those gondolas create such a sense of place. How do you interpret this work? Curator: McBey captures Venice as a theater of memory. The Molo, historically Venice’s gateway, is packed with symbolic weight. Note how he positions the viewer almost as if on stage themselves. How does that arrangement make you feel? Editor: A little removed, like I'm watching a play unfold. There's also something about the gondolas all lined up--waiting, perhaps? Curator: Precisely. The gondola, beyond its practical function, has become a potent symbol of Venice itself—of passage, of romance, of a particular kind of faded grandeur. And, the crowds… are they arriving, departing, or simply observing? Editor: That's a good question. I hadn’t really considered where the crowds fit into this historical drama you mention. Curator: Consider the shadows; long and dramatic, they enhance this impression of transition. McBey understands how to evoke an emotional response with stark shadows. Editor: So it’s about transition and transience—the constant flux of people and meaning across time? Curator: Indeed! And the persistence of certain symbols despite those shifts. The enduring presence of Venice as a cultural touchstone. These images work to tell stories for generations. What sticks with you the most after looking at this image? Editor: The layered feeling it creates – it makes me think of personal and shared stories all intersecting in one place. Thank you.