s3e54 domesticity and wallpaper with artist/engraver Andrew Raftery

Platemark: prints and the printmaking ecosystem

In s3e54, Platemark host Ann Shafer talks with Andrew Raftery, artist, professor, scholar, and wallpaper designer. Andrew works in several modes, most notably in engraving. The through line in the work is domesticity. An early print featured a young man suit shopping. Next was a portfolio of engravings detailing rooms during a real estate open house. Then engravings representing each month in the life of a garden were transferred to twelve dinnerplates and sold as a set. His latest show included watercolors depicting historical interior rooms that feature French and Chinese wallpapers. He also produces letterpress wallpapers himself.

Ann and Andrew talk about how engraving shows itself completely—there is no secret to how it is made, the inscrutability of Vermeer’s paintings, the importance of understanding the history of prints, how the transfer process works with ceramic dinnerware, how French and Chinese wallpapers were made (some were hand painted!), and hatboxes.

Images of Andrew's art are by Erik Gould; Andrew's headshot is by Ned Lochaya. Andrew is represented by Mary Ryan Gallery.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Human Resources, 1990s. Engraving (unfinished). Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Cosmetic Counter, 1990s. Exterior of folding triptych. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Cosmetic Counter, 1990s. Interior of folding triptych. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Suit Shopping: An Engraved Narrative, 2002. Diptych, engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Suit Shopping: An Engraved Narrative, 2002. Triptych, engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 1 (living room) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 2 (dining room) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 3 (kitchen) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 4 (hallway) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Scene 5 (bedroom) from the portfolio Open House, 2008. Engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). January (recto) from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). January (verso) from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). February from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). March from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). April from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). May from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). June from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). July from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). August from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Study for August from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Pen and ink. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). September from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). October from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Figure model for October from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). November from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). December from the set Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16. Earthenware dinner plate with transferred engraving. Courtesy of the artist.

Installation shot of Autobiography of a Garden on Twelve Engraved Plates, 2009–16, at Mary Ryan Gallery. Courtesy of the artist.

Clare Leighton (American, 1898–1989). New England Industries, c. 1952. Set of twelve dinner plates. Live Auctioneers.

Paul Scott (British, born 1953). Gardens of Lyra, 2020. Set of dinnerware produced for Fortnum and Mason.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Winter: Weeds, 2019. Letterpress printed wallpaper. Courtesy of the artist.

Installed Winter wallpaper.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Spring: Irises, 2019. Letterpress printed wallpaper. Courtesy of the artist.

Installed Spring wallpaper.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Summer: Scutellarioides, 2019. Letterpress printed wallpaper. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Autumn: Amaranths, 2019. Letterpress printed wallpaper. Courtesy of the artist.

Installed Autumn wallpaper.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Green Wall, 2019. Letterpress printed wallpaper. Courtesy of the artist.

Installed Green Wall wallpaper.

Andrew Raftery and Dan Wood printing wallpaper.

Working materials for wallpaper.

Working materials for wallpaper.

Andrew Raftery’s studio.

Winterthur, Garden & Library, Delaware.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Winterthur, Baltimore Drinking Room with Chinese hand-painted paper, artists unknown, 2022. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist. And the artist working in situ.

Corliss-Carrington House, Providence.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Corliss-Carrington House, Providence, East Parlor with Chinese hand-painted paper, artists unknown, 2023. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Corliss-Carrington House, Providence, Telemachus on the Island of Calypso by Dufour: Garden of Calypso, 2022. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Winterthur, Philadelphia Bedroom with Chinese hand-painted paper, artists unknown, 2022. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Private Residence, Delaware, Zuber’s View of North America, 2023. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Handicraft Club, Providence.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Handicraft Club, Providence, Great Tiger Hunt of India, 2023. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Handicraft Club, Providence, Great Tiger Hunt of India, 2023. Watercolor over lithograph. Courtesy of the artist.

Redwood Library, Newport.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Studies for Redwood Library, Newport, commission, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Studies for Redwood Library, Newport, commission, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Studies for Redwood Library, Newport, commission, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Powderhouse Bandbox, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Powderhouse Bandbox with open lid, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.

Andrew Raftery (American, born 1962). Monogrammist ASR’s Hatbox, 2024. Courtesy of the artist.