Special Houses, from The Black Woman (formerly The Negro Woman) (published 1946-47)

Description

The I Am the Black Woman series (previously called Negro Women) is composed of 15 linocuts accompanied by explanatory titles and texts. The series celebrates the courage and determination of female heroines of African American history, as well as the valor, integrity, and resolve of ordinary women. The Art Institute’s three prints from the series focus on the daily struggles of African American women. Aesthetically, the entire series is characterized by an emphasis on figural simplicity. A palpable sense of movement and a lack of excessive detail are visible throughout the series. This print, Special Houses, addresses the issue of segregated housing and the experiences of African Americans in crowded northern cities.

Special Houses, from The Black Woman (formerly The Negro Woman) (published 1946-47)

Elizabeth Catlett

1946, printed 1989

Accession Number

184342

Medium

Linocut on cream wove paper

Dimensions

Image: 10.8 × 15 cm (4 5/16 × 5 15/16 in.); Sheet: 20 × 25.5 cm (7 7/8 × 10 1/16 in.)

Classification

linocut

Museum

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by The Leadership Advisory Committee