Show Notes: s3e110 Tom Hipschen
Ever wonder about the incredible artistry hiding in your wallet? In this episode, we sit down with Tom Hipschen, a former master engraver at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing who spent nearly four decades crafting the very banknotes and postage stamps we handle every day. Tom takes us behind the scenes of his extraordinary career—from his grueling decade-long apprenticeship and serving as the lead picture engraver for the $20 bill, to engraving over 130 US postage stamps. We delve into the fascinating intersection of centuries-old hand engraving, cutting-edge anti-counterfeiting technology, and a poignant look at his legacy as he navigates life with essential tremor. Tune in for a conversation that will completely change how you look at the everyday prints right in your pocket.
Please know showing currency is not allowed. But take a look in your wallet and you're sure to have a Tom Hipschen original!
Tom Hipschen. Kenneth Wiram at his Pantograph. Steel-engraved intaglio print. 1 7/8 x 1 5/8 in. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Bureau of Engraving and Printing Official Presidential Portrait of Ronald Reagan, 1984. Steel engraving. 5.3 x 3.75 in. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Bitcoin Banknote with portrait of Hal Finney from Noteworthy, 2022. Engraving. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Portrait of Robert F. Kennedy Stamp (15 cents), 1979. Engraving. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Assorted portraits for stamps. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Carousel Animals Stamps (25 cents), 1988. Color offset lithograph and engravings. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp: Spectacled Eider ($15), 1977. Engraving. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp: Canada Geese ($5), 1977. Engraving. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. First state of Portrait of JSG Boggs. Steel engraving and drypoint. Plate: 2.3 x 1.88 in. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Second state of Portrait of JSG Boggs. Steel engraving and etching (with microneedled signature in collar). Plate: 2.3 x 1.88 in. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Portrait of JSG Boggs. Steel engraving and etching. Plate: 2.3 x 1.88 in. Courtesy of the Artist.
[DETAIL] Tom Hipschen. Portrait of JSG Boggs. Steel engraving and etching. Plate: 2.3 x 1.88 in. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Portrait of Mom at Seventy. Steel-engraved intaglio print. 1.5 x 1.25 in. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Portrait of Einstein. Steel-engraved intaglio print. Courtesy of the Artist.
Tom Hipschen. Bound Clematis. Engraving. Courtesy of the Artist.
Curator / Podcaster / Fair Organizer
Ann Shafer is an independent curator, art historian, and a leading expert on the legacy of Stanley William Hayter and Atelier 17. As the creator and host of the Platemark podcast, she bridges the gap between technical print scholarship and the global community of artists and collectors.
Ann previously served as Associate Curator of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Baltimore Museum of Art and has held curatorial positions at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the National Gallery of Art. She holds a BA from The College of Wooster and an MA from Williams College. Today, she channels her three decades of expertise into organizing the Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair, co-editing a major centennial festschrift on Atelier 17, and leading curated art history tours across Europe. (Photo credit: Becky Redett)
Show Notes: s3e109 Reinaldo Gil Zambrano
