Heron's Close 1905

James McBey made this etching, Heron's Close, sometime in the early 20th century, using fine lines to build up tone, capturing a street scene that feels both busy and still. The beauty here is in the details. It's a kind of controlled chaos, or maybe organised confusion! I’m drawn to the way McBey uses the hatching to create depth, like how the dark, dense lines suggest the shadow of the archway on the right. Look at the figures in the foreground, how they emerge from the darkness as the eye adjusts. McBey reminds me of Whistler. Both artists were masters of capturing a sense of place through atmosphere, with a real sensitivity to the subtle tonal variations. These guys show us that art isn't always about answers, but about embracing the questions.