The Sniper, No.2

Art Historical Context

**The Sniper, No. 2** is a striking drypoint print by Scottish artist James McBey, in 1920 and now housed in the National Gallery of's Rosenwald Collection. just 23.5 × 34 cm, this intimate work captures the tension of wartime vigilance through McBey's masterful line work. As an Official War Artist during World War, McBey documented the realities of the Western Front and this piece—part of a series—likely evokes the peril of snipers in the trenches, even if etched postwar. Drypoint, McBey's favored medium here, involves scratching directly into a copper plate, raising a soft burr that yields richly textured, velvety lines upon printing. This technique lends the image a raw, immediate quality, distinguishing it from smoother etchings and emphasizing emotional depth. McBey's style blends precision with atmospheric drama, making his war prints enduring testaments to human endurance amid conflict. Held in the NGA's Prints department (CG-W), **The Sniper, No. 2** invites visitors to reflect on the artistry born from history's shadows. Its modest scale belies its power, offering a poignant window into early 20th-century printmaking and the lasting impact of the Great War.

About the Artist

James McBey · 1883–1959

James McBey (1883–1959) was a Scottish artist renowned for his etchings and paintings, emerging from humble beginnings in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, as the illegitimate son of a blacksmith's daughter. Largely self-taught, he left school at fifteen to work as a bank clerk in Aberdeen, where he devoured art books from the public library and attended evening classes at Gray's School of Art to hone his ...