The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 15, 2025

Suit Shopping: An Engraved Narrative: Scene 3

2000–2002

Andrew Raftery

(American, b. 1962)

one of three printed scenes on three sheets of paper joined by tape; a engraving from four plates on four sheets of paper (three joined); paper folder

Image: 33 x 20.2 cm (13 x 7 15/16 in.); Platemark: 37.8 x 23.3 cm (14 7/8 x 9 3/16 in.); Sheet: 49.4 x 48.7 cm (19 7/16 x 19 3/16 in.); Matted: 53.7 x 111 x 0.3 cm (21 1/8 x 43 11/16 x 1/8 in.)

Gift of friends in memory of Ann Bassett and Tom Johnson 2003.15.2.a

Location: Not on view

Description

Raftery depicts the habits and mores of average Americans- the ordinary events of modern life-often humorously. "Shopping for a suit is a cultural remnant, it is an event in a man's life," the artist explains. "I was thinking about male vanity." Raftery presents such mundane situations as straightforward, old-fashioned narratives, allowing the story to unfold in a series of related scenes. Engraving is exacting and difficult, so few artists today choose this printmaking method. Raftery, however, has mastered the art of cutting grooves into a copper plate. Since paper currency is printed from metal plates engraved in the same way, he likes the implied connection between the technique and monetary power and authority.

Fresh Prints: The Nineties to Now. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (March 22-July 26, 2015).
The Cleveland Museum of Art (3/22/2015 - 7/26/2015); "Fresh Prints: The Nineties to Now"
Drawn, Exposed and Impressed. MOCA Cleveland, OH (January 20-May 7, 2006).
MOCA Cleveland (1/20/2006 - 5/7/2006): "Drawn, Exposed, and Impressed: Recent Works on Paper from the Cleveland Museum of Art," no catalogue.
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Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2003.15.2.a