Description
Elizabeth Catlett
American, active in Mexico (1915–2012)
About This Artwork
Sharecropper is one of Elizabeth Catlett’s most powerful and enduring images, emblematic of her lifelong commitment to social justice and the dignified portrayal of Black life. Originally created in 1952, this linocut reflects Catlett’s time working in Mexico at the Taller de Gráfica Popular (People’s Graphic Arts Workshop), where political activism and accessible art were central ideals.
The work centers on a monumentalized Black woman, rendered with quiet strength and humanity. Through this commanding presence, Catlett draws attention to the inequities of the Southern tenant farming system, which often trapped Black families—especially women—in cycles of poverty and debt. Rather than depicting hardship alone, Catlett elevates her subject, presenting resilience, endurance, and dignity as acts of resistance.
This impression was printed in 1970 from the original linoleum block, at which time Catlett introduced color to the composition. Earlier impressions were printed in black and white. As with traditional printmaking practice, Catlett retained the right to reprint the image as long as the result met her artistic standards, underscoring her continued engagement with the work decades after its creation.
Provenance
Sold by Sragow Gallery to The Art Institute of Chicago, 1992
Exhibition History (Selected)
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The Art Institute of Chicago, January 24–July 10, 1994
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Since the Harlem Renaissance: Sixty Years of African American Art, Art Institute of Chicago, May 18–August 25, 1996
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In Their Own Right: Images of African Americans, Art Institute of Chicago, September 27, 1997–January 11, 1998
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A Century of Collecting: African American Art, Art Institute of Chicago, February–May 2003
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Collecting for Chicago: Prints, Drawings, and Patronage, Art Institute of Chicago, June 14–September 14, 2008
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Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist and All That It Implies, Art Institute of Chicago, August 30, 2025–January 4, 2026
Literature (Selected)
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Andrea D. Barnwell and Kirsten P. Buick, Museum Studies, Art Institute of Chicago, vol. 24, no. 2 (1999), p. 185
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Martin Fox, Museum Studies, Art Institute of Chicago, vol. 24, no. 2 (1999), pp. 206–208, no. 18
Credit Line
Purchased with funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Hartman
Reference Number
1992.182
Copyright
© 2019 Catlett Mora Family Trust / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
