Heron's Close 1905

This image is an etching, made with ink on paper by James McBey. I like to imagine the artist, McBey, bending over the plate, watching as the acid eats away, biting into the metal to create these lines. There’s something so physical and alchemic about it. It looks like he scratched at the surface, digging, and then it all came up from underneath. Look at the way the buildings are stacked; there is a complex perspective there. Everything is so detailed, so intricate, that it really captures the gritty essence of this bustling marketplace. It reminds me of the work of Whistler or maybe even some of the German Expressionists. Artists are always in conversation, right? We're inspired by the past, responding to it, and pushing it in new directions. It's all about embracing the process, the mistakes, and the unexpected twists and turns that emerge along the way. It leaves space for different thoughts and feelings.