The Cheese-Press 1910

James McBey made this etching, ‘The Cheese-Press,’ with fine lines that create a moody scene. It's all in sepia tones, and it feels like looking at a memory, distant and a bit dreamy. I imagine McBey, squinting to see the scene before him, carefully layering those lines to build up the image. What was he thinking about as he made the work? The scratching of the etching needle, the smell of the ink, and the press, it all has such a particular feel. Look how he uses those thin, scratchy lines to suggest the movement of water and the stillness of the trees. Each little mark feels so intentional. The scene is like looking through a screen of branches, and then a figure is placed in the centre of the scene. It's like he wants to invite us into a private world. His use of line reminds me of Whistler, another printmaker interested in capturing a sense of place through atmosphere. There's a connection across time, like a quiet conversation between artists. It makes you feel part of something bigger.