03 April 2012

Elizabeth Catlett, 1915-2012

Photograph of Elizabeth Catlett by Fern Logan, via Wikipedia
I just learned today that sculptor and printmaker Elizabeth Catlett passed away yesterday, April 2, 2012, two weeks before her 97th birthday. A granddaughter of slaves, Catlett was born in 1915 in Washington, D.C., and studied art at Howard University and University of Iowa. In 1947 she married a Mexican artist named Francisco Mora and became a Mexican citizen.

Elizabeth Catlett, Sharecropper, 1952
Over the span of her 70 year career, Catlett created strong politically charged work. In Mexico she worked with a group of printmakers called The People's Graphic Arts Workshop who were dedicated to using their art to promote social change. 

Here are some of her powerful prints.

Elizabeth Catlett, And A Special Fear For My Loved Ones, 1946
Elizabeth Catlett, In Harriet Tubman I Helped Hundreds to Freedom, 1946 


Elizabeth Catlett, Sojourner Truth fought for the rights of women as well as negroes

Elizabeth Catlett, I Have Given the World My Songs

Elizabeth Catlett, Survivor

Added 4/4/12 at 7:45 a.m. -- Here's an obituary with more information from the Washington Post.

4 comments:

Katka said...

Wow! Powerful is right. Fantastic work. Thank you for sharing Annie.

Wendy Willis said...

Powerful prints, Annie. Thanks for posting.

itsuko K said...

What a powerful work and powerful life as a woman as well as an artist!

d. moll, l.ac. said...

thanks for posting, she walked and printed her talk