Elizabeth Catlett: Honoring Strength and Resilience in Mother and Child and Sharecropper
Elizabeth Catlett was a groundbreaking sculptor and printmaker whose work centered on themes of race, labor, and motherhood. Born in 1915 in Washington, D.C., she was denied entry to Carnegie Mellon University because of her race but went on to study at Howard University under prominent Black artists like Lois Mailou Jones and James Porter. Later, she became the first African American woman to earn an MFA in sculpture from the University of Iowa, where she was influenced by Grant Wood, who encouraged her to focus on the experiences of Black people.
Throughout her career, Catlett used her art as a tool for social activism, depicting the struggles and triumphs of African Americans and women. She spent much of her life in Mexico, where she joined the Taller de Gráfica Popular, a collective of printmakers dedicated to political and social justice. Her works, including Mother and Child and Sharecropper, reflect her lifelong commitment to celebrating Black resilience and dignity.
Mother and Child is one of Catlett’s most recognized sculptural themes, appearing in different versions throughout her career. The piece captures the tenderness and protective nature of motherhood, with smooth, rounded forms that emphasize warmth, connection, and strength. Influenced by both African art and Mexican sculptural traditions, Catlett’s figures often embody an emotional depth that transcends cultural boundaries.
This piece is particularly significant within the context of Black motherhood, which has historically been shaped by both love and struggle. The image of a mother embracing her child reflects themes of protection and endurance, especially considering the challenges faced by Black mothers in American history, from slavery to segregation. Catlett’s ability to convey such deep emotion through abstraction and simplicity makes Mother and Child a timeless tribute to maternal strength.
While Mother and Child captures love and protection, Sharecropper (1952) is a stark representation of labor and endurance. This linocut print portrays an elderly Black woman, her face deeply lined with the weight of experience. She wears a wide-brimmed hat, textured clothing, and an expression of quiet resilience. Through bold lines and strong contrasts, Catlett emphasizes both the dignity and hardship of agricultural workers in the American South.
Sharecropping emerged after the Civil War as a system that continued to exploit Black laborers, trapping them in cycles of poverty and oppression. By choosing a Black woman as the subject, Catlett acknowledges the unique burdens placed on Black women, who often had to work tirelessly both in the fields and in their homes. The print’s striking visual style, influenced by Mexican muralism and social realism, makes it a powerful political statement about racial and economic injustice.
Both Mother and Child and Sharecropper showcase Catlett’s ability to blend art with activism, using sculpture and printmaking to tell stories that are both deeply personal and universally relevant. Her work serves as a tribute to Black motherhood, labor, and resilience, ensuring that the struggles and triumphs of African Americans remain visible in art history. Even today, her influence can be seen in contemporary artists who continue to explore themes of identity, justice, and empowerment.
Catlett once said, “I have always wanted my art to service my people—to reflect us, to relate to us, to stimulate us, to make us aware of our potential.” Through works like Mother and Child and Sharecropper, she achieved exactly that, leaving behind a powerful legacy that continues to inspire generations.
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