Elizabeth Catlett — Survivor (1983)
Elizabeth Catlett — Survivor (1983)
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Numbered Artifact Signed — Original hand-pulled impression from the 1983 edition, individually numbered and signed by Elizabeth Catlett. Displays the original production artifact characteristic of this impression class.
AP Artifact Signed — Original Artist's Proof hand-pulled impression signed by Elizabeth Catlett. Displays the original production artifact characteristic of this impression class.
Artifact Archive — Original unsigned, unnumbered hand-pulled impression displaying the original production artifact characteristic of this impression class.
Artifact Note: These impressions display a visible transferred-text printing artifact created during the original hand-pulled printing process. It is an original manufacturing characteristic of these impressions—not later damage or deterioration.
Ships securely in a protective package. Certificate of Authenticity included.
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Why This Work Matters
Created by Elizabeth Catlett in 1983, Survivor is an original limited-edition linocut inspired by Dorothea Lange's photograph Ex-slave with a Long Memory, made in Alabama during 1937–1938. Rather than reproducing Lange's image, Catlett transformed it through the expressive language of relief printmaking, creating a powerful meditation on resilience, dignity, memory, and survival.
Hand-pulled from Catlett's original linoleum block as part of the published edition of 1,000, each impression preserves the distinctive qualities of the artist's original printmaking process. These are authentic original prints—not later reproductions—and each impression bears the subtle variations that naturally occur in hand-pulled relief printing.
Today, Survivor is represented in major museum collections, affirming its importance within Elizabeth Catlett's mature body of work and the history of twentieth-century American printmaking. Offered directly from the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive, these surviving impressions represent an increasingly rare opportunity to acquire one of Catlett's original hand-pulled prints.
Provenance & Publication
Year
1983
Copyright
© 1983 Elizabeth Catlett. All rights reserved.
Produced By
Original hand-pulled linocut printed from Elizabeth Catlett's original carved linoleum block as part of the published edition of 1,000 impressions.
Published under the authority
Published by Contemporary Crafts under the direction of Dr. Samella Lewis as part of the original 1983 edition.
Source Archive
Offered directly from the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive. Available impressions include Numbered Artifact Signed, AP Artifact Signed, and Artifact Archive examples from the original published edition.
These archive impressions represent a distinct class within the original 1983 published edition and are offered separately from premium numbered impressions preserved in the archive.
Publication History
The impressions offered today through the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive originate from Elizabeth Catlett's original 1983 published edition. Preserved within the archive for decades, they preserve an important chapter in the stewardship of Catlett's original graphic work.
Acquiring an impression directly from the archive provides a documented connection to the original publication history of Survivor and the legacy of one of the twentieth century's most influential printmakers.
About The Artist
Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012) was one of the twentieth century's most influential printmakers and sculptors. Throughout a career spanning more than six decades, she created works that celebrated the dignity, strength, and lived experiences of Black people while addressing themes of labor, family, equality, and social justice.
Working in both the United States and Mexico, Catlett mastered relief printmaking, lithography, sculpture, and drawing, producing an enduring body of work now represented in major museum collections throughout the world. Today, she is recognized as one of the defining voices of American art and one of the most important artists of the Black Arts tradition.
About the Publisher
Dr. Samella Lewis (1924–2022) was an artist, educator, art historian, publisher, curator, and founder of the Museum of African American Art. Often referred to as the "Godmother of African American Art," Lewis devoted her career to documenting, preserving, publishing, and promoting the work of Black artists.
Through Contemporary Crafts, she collaborated directly with many of the most important artists of the twentieth century, including Elizabeth Catlett, Charles White, Richmond Barthé, Betye Saar, and others. The Samella Lewis Publishing Archive continues that mission by preserving and offering original works from these historic publications.
Product Details
Artist: Elizabeth Catlett
Title: Survivor
Medium: Original hand-pulled linocut
Available Impression Classes:
Numbered Artifact Signed
AP Artifact Signed
Artifact Archive
Dimensions:
10 × 11¼ inches
Condition: Original vintage impression; may show natural characteristics associated with age and the original hand-pulled printing process, including tonal variation, occasional foxing or paper toning, minor edge or border wear, and visible production artifacts. Each impression is individually inspected, and the printed image remains well preserved.
Framing: Unframed
Documentation: Certificate of authenticity included.
Availability
These impressions originate from the original 1983 published edition and are offered directly from the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive. As examples enter museum, institutional, and private collections, the number of archive-held impressions continues to diminish.
Availability is therefore limited to the remaining original impressions preserved within the archive.
Shipping & Care
Each impression is individually inspected, documented, and carefully packaged to museum standards before shipment.
Your impression ships securely in a protective package and includes a Certificate of Authenticity issued by the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive.
Shipping timelines and return information are provided at checkout.