Open House Dutch Colonial is a full color lithograph unique to Raftery, since he often works in black and white burin engraving. The work employs some of his painterly traditions as gained from studying at Yale and his keen ability to explore both observational and autographic narratives of contemporary American life. Open House Dutch Colonial depicts a group of buyers looking at a possible real estate acquisition. We feel we are part of the discussions ensuing in various parts of the room and experience the interior light, the surroundings, and the breeze from the open door. Raftery, professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, is the recipient of numerous grants recognizing his superior artisanship in printmaking, especially burin engraving. This work also exists as a catalog documenting five engraved scenes by Raftery, and was published by the Mary Ryan Gallery.

The print is held in collections at the Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick, NJ and the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Printer: Nick Karvounis

Learn more about the artist:
risd.edu/academics/printmaking/faculty/andrew-raftery