Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/726123
34 THE CAPITOL DOME Since the BEP was established in 1862, the Capitol com- plex has been engraved dozens of times. It has appeared on currency, postage stamps, revenue stamps, souvenirs, admission tickets, and even a Brazilian Exhibition memento from 1922. It has been engraved from almost all directions, including an aerial view (fig. 3); surrounded by pedestrians, horse-drawn carriages, and automobiles (fig. 4); during the day and at night (fig. 5); and from different angles that emphasize the House, the Senate, or both sides equally. There are also engravings of the Statue of Freedom (fig. 6), which stands at the peak of the Capitol Dome. The Capitol has been a naturally popular subject for BEP engravers. It is instantly recognizable as the seat of govern- ment, but it is also a symbol of democracy, freedom, and patriotism. The Capitol is a strong, familiar image that can be used on numerous product types, so engravings of the building are in high demand. The only other buildings that have been as favored by BEP engravers are the Trea- sury Department (of which the BEP is a part) and the White House. In fact, small engravings (or vignettes) of the Capitol and the White House were often used in tandem as design components on political or government documents, such as Woodrow Wilson's 1924 memorial service invitation (fig. 7) or President William McKinley's 1897 Inaugural Ball souvenir (fig. 8). The engraving process itself is meticulous and time-con- suming. Engravings are typically executed on small pieces of steel, called dies, using hand tools and acid etching. The dots, lines, and dashes cut into the die surface are miniscule— sometimes just fractions of a millimeter wide and deep. By varying the width, depth, length, and spacing of these cuts, the engraver is able to create an image that appears three- dimensional. Banknote engraving, the style employed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, is a complex, demanding skill; even today, engravers must undergo between seven and ten years of apprenticeship before they become professional engravers, or journeymen. 2 To make a print, ink is applied to the die and then wiped BEP HISTORICAL RESOURCE CENTER Fig. 3. U.S. Capitol, aerial view BEP HISTORICAL RESOURCE CENTER Fig. 4. U.S. Capitol, 1943 BEP HISTORICAL RESOURCE CENTER Fig. 5. Scene of the U.S. Capitol for the Plate Printer's and Engraver's Union, 1946 BEP HISTORICAL RESOURCE CENTER Fig. 6. "Head of America," 1917