Elizabeth Catlett – The Torture of Mothers

The Torture of Mothers, 1970–2003

• Artist: Elizabeth Catlett (American-Mexican, 1915–2012)
• Medium: Lithograph in colors on Arches paper
• Dimensions (sheet): 38.1 × 56.5 cm (15 × 22 1/4 in)
• Dimensions (image): 23.2 × 27.3 cm (9 1/8 × 10 3/4 in)
• Edition: Artist's Proof (A/P), outside the edition of 25
• Signed: Yes — signed in pencil, titled, dated '1970–2003' and annotated 'A/P' Framed: Yes
• Printed: 2003 (second edition, from the original 1970 composition)
  

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. Created in 1970, The Torture of Mothers is one of Catlett's most politically charged compositions — a direct response to the systemic violence and injustice endured by Black mothers in America. The title references the grief and anguish of mothers who witnessed their children fall victim to racial violence, a subject Catlett addressed with unflinching clarity and deep humanity. The use of color amplifies the emotional intensity of the composition, giving the work a raw, visceral power that remains as urgent today as when it was first created.

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 '1970–2003' 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.