Elizabeth Catlett — Sharecropper (1972)
Elizabeth Catlett — Sharecropper (1972)
Official first authorized vintage 1972 offset lithograph poster reproduction from the Samella Lewis archive.
Premium Condition copies are exceptionally well preserved vintage impressions. Archive Condition copies may show minor edge wear from storage. The printed image area remains clean and identical.
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Ships securely in a poster tube. Certificate of authenticity included.
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About the Print
Sharecropper is among Elizabeth Catlett’s most recognized and enduring images. Rendered with quiet strength and clarity, the portrait conveys dignity, labor, and resilience—central themes in Catlett’s lifelong commitment to representing Black life with honesty and respect.
This work is offered here as a vintage offset lithograph poster print, produced in 1972. It marks the first time this image was reproduced in offset poster form, representing an important moment in the wider circulation of Catlett’s work beyond its original print editions.
During Black History Month, works like Sharecropper remind us why Elizabeth Catlett’s voice and the institutions that preserved and published her work remain central to American cultural history.
Provenance & Publication
Year
1972
Copyright
© Multicultural Productions, Los Angeles, California
Produced by
Contemporary Crafts Inc.
Published under the authority
Dr. Samella Lewis
Source Archive
Original publishing archive and collection of Dr. Samella Lewis
Dr. Samella Lewis was the first publisher to reproduce Sharecropper as an offset lithograph poster, expanding access to this significant image while maintaining its integrity and meaning.
This is not the original linocut edition. It is the first authorized offset lithograph poster reproduction of the image.
About the Artist
Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012) was one of the most influential American artists of the twentieth century. Her work addressed social justice, labor, and the lived experiences of Black communities with clarity, dignity, and moral force.
Working primarily in printmaking and sculpture, Catlett combined technical mastery with a lifelong commitment to social change. Her images of Black life remain foundational to American art history and are held in the collections of major museums worldwide.
About the Publisher
Dr. Samella Lewis was a distinguished art historian, curator, and publisher whose work played a foundational role in the documentation and advancement of African American art in the twentieth century.
As a scholar and institution builder, she dedicated her career to ensuring that Black artists were preserved within the historical record at a time when mainstream museums and publishers routinely excluded them.
Through her publishing work, Dr. Lewis expanded access to culturally significant images while maintaining academic rigor and cultural responsibility. Her efforts ensured that important works reached broader audiences without being detached from their historical meaning.
Her legacy continues through the preservation and stewardship of her original publishing archive, from which this edition is offered.
Product Details
Artist: Elizabeth Catlett
Title: Sharecropper
Medium: Offset lithograph poster print
Year: 1972
Dimensions: 18 × 14 inches
Condition: Vintage print (see images for details)
Framing: Unframed
Availability
This poster was produced as part of a finite historical printing. As works from the original publishing archive enter private collections, availability naturally diminishes over time.
Once sold, future access to prints from this archive cannot be guaranteed.
Part of the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive Collection.
Shipping & Care
Each print is carefully packaged to ensure safe delivery.
Shipping timelines, insurance, and return information are provided at checkout.
Acquire This Work
This work is offered from a finite historical archive.
Once sold, future access cannot be guaranteed.
Issued from the Samella Lewis publishing archive and estate, stewarded by her family.
Originally published under her Contemporary Crafts imprint.