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Overview
D.Y. Cameron was a successful painter and a very influential etcher. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art before joining life classes at the Royal Scottish Academy. His work was acclaimed in Edinburgh, London, Berlin and Munich. During the First World War, Cameron was appointed official war artist to the Canadian government and in 1933 was made the King's Painter in Scotland. Cameron was highly sought after by collectors until the Great Crash of 1929 brought a collapse in prices for prints in general. Despite his excellence as a printmaker, his work still remains underrated both in art historical and market terms.
Strong tonal contrasts characterise his prints and his stark and dramatic paintings, which are mainly landscapes and cityscapes. His prints often feature areas of great darkness, offset by highlights. Cameron’s etchings are notable for their use of drypoint, a skill that he had mastered over his years of production. This is particularly evident in his studies of church interiors and Scottish landscapes.
This drypoint etching of The Gateway of Bruges in Belgium displays Cameron’s architectural strengths, and capable use of perspective. The stature of the gate has been conveyed through its scale in the composition. In comparison to his landscapes which are often harmonious but not ridged, the architectural details of the gate are sturdy and symmetrical. Through the gate the Belfry of Bruges is visible in the distance. The gate and surrounding buildings lead back to it as the perspective recedes. Two girls are in the immediate foreground, with another figure passing through the gate into a crowd in the market square.
Sources:
Arthur M. Hind, The Etchings of D.Y. Cameron (London; Halton and Truscott Smith, 1924)
National Galleries Scotland, https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/artists/sir-david-young-cameron
https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/30987/castle-urquhart-1929
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Young_Cameron
Dr Mark Stocker Curator, Historical International Art December 2017