Elizabeth Catlett (portfolio of 6 pencil signed reproductions)

Elizabeth Catlett

A scarce portfolio of six reproduced images by Elizabeth Catlett, honoring her work as a Black woman artist, as well as her time spent as a naturalized Mexican citizen. The woodcuts and lithographs were originally created and published at El taller de Grafica Popular, the reknowned socially active graphic workshop in Mexico City.

Each sheet has printed text in the lower right corner: "Copyright ©, 1972 by Multi-Cultural Productions, Los Angeles, California. Produced by Contemporary Crafts, Inc. 1019 S. Redondo Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90019".

The portfolio of posters was published in 1972 by Catlett and 'Multi-Cultural Production' in Los Angeles and was produced by Contemporary Crafts, Inc, Los Angeles.

Each image has the title, date done, the original medium, and the original image size: The six images are: "Cabeza" (Head 1967, lithograph, 20 x 13), "Negroes Bello" (Black is Beautiful; 1968), "Rebozos" (Shawls; 1968, lithograph, 20 x 13) with added pencil dedication. "Sharecropper" (woodcut, 18 x 16), "Watts/Detroit/Washington/Harlem/Newark", (1970, linocut, 27-3/4 x 37-1/2) "Malcolm X Speaks for Us", (1969, lino-cut 37-1/2 x 27-3/4).

Each is pencil signed by the artist in the lower right margin of the sheet beneath the reproduced image. The image of "Rebozos", in addition to being pencil signed, is inscribed in pencil: "To Seymour and Millie, with love". This refers to Seymour and Millie Kaplan who were associates and friends of Catlett's at Taller de Grafica Popular in Mexico. This portfolio is from their estate.