Elizabeth Catlett – Cabeza Indígena

Cabeza Indígena, 1955–2003

• Artist: Elizabeth Catlett (American-Mexican, 1915–2012)
• Medium: Lithograph on wove paper
• Dimensions (sheet): 56.5 × 38.3 cm (22 1/4 × 15 1/16 in)
• Dimensions (image): 30.6 × 25.4 cm (12 1/16 × 10 in) 
• Edition: Artist's Proof (A/P), outside the edition of 25 
• Signed: Yes
•  signed in pencil, titled, dated '1955–2003' and annotated 'A/P'
• Framed: Yes
•  Printed: 2003 (second edition, from the original 1955 composition)

Cabeza Indígena is a lithograph on wove paper printed in 2003, constituting the second edition of a composition originally created in 1955. This example is an Artist's Proof (A/P), outside the limited edition of 25 — making it a particularly rare piece highly sought after by collectors.

The work exemplifies the powerful visual language of Elizabeth Catlett, one of the most significant printmakers and sculptors of the twentieth century, whose entire career was driven by a profound commitment to the representation of Black and Latino women and the dignity of marginalized peoples. In Cabeza Indígena, the frontal portrait of a female figure — with strong features and an introspective expression — embodies the universal humanity that Catlett elevated into art.

Trained at the Art Institute of Chicago and under Grant Wood at the University of Iowa, Catlett developed a style at the crossroads of American social realism and the Mexican graphic tradition, shaped by her years at the Taller de Gráfica Popular in Mexico City. This dual heritage gives her prints a rare visual and political density, recognized today in the world's most prestigious collections — from the MoMA to the Smithsonian.

Preserved with full margins and presented in a frame, the work is in excellent condition.

Condition Very good condition. Full margins preserved. Not examined outside of frame. Full condition report available upon request.

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FAQ

Is the work signed? Yes — signed in pencil by the artist, titled, dated '1955–2003' and annotated 'A/P'.

Is this a limited edition? This is an Artist's Proof (A/P), outside the official edition of 25 — a status that makes it a non-commercial example, generally considered rarer on the secondary market.

Who is Elizabeth Catlett? Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012) is one of the most important printmakers and sculptors of twentieth-century American art. Her humanist and politically engaged work is held in the collections of MoMA, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, among others.

Is the work framed? Yes.

What is the difference between an A/P and a numbered edition? An Artist's Proof is produced outside the main edition, for the artist's personal use. These examples are generally fewer in number and considered rarer on the secondary market.