Samella Lewis — Royal Sacrifice
Samella Lewis — Royal Sacrifice
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Original vintage Contemporary Crafts edition from the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive.
Ships securely in a protective package. Certificate of Authenticity included.
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Why This Work Matters
Royal Sacrifice belongs to an important period in Samella Lewis's artistic career, when her painting increasingly combined carefully structured figuration with symbolic imagery. Originally completed in 1969, the composition presents three figures arranged within a strong vertical format, balancing simplified forms, textured surfaces, and a restrained earth-toned palette.
A shrouded third figure, often interpreted as an embodiment of death, stands behind the mother and child, introducing a symbolic dimension that transforms the painting beyond portraiture into a meditation on mortality, protection, and sacrifice.
Published as a vintage Contemporary Crafts offset lithograph during the 1970s, this edition preserves one of Lewis's most recognizable paintings while reflecting her broader commitment to making significant works of African American art accessible through original publications.
Provenance & Publication
Publication Period
1970s
Published under the authority
Published during the 1970s under the authority of Dr. Samella Lewis.
Offered directly from the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive.
Source Archive
Original publishing archive and collection of Dr. Samella Lewis.
Published during the 1970s under the authority of Dr. Samella Lewis, this vintage offset lithograph remains part of the original Samella Lewis Publishing Archive and represents an increasingly scarce example of the archive's commitment to preserving and distributing significant works by African American artists.
Publication History
Originally painted in 1969 as an oil on canvas measuring 36 × 24 inches, Royal Sacrifice was reproduced as a Contemporary Crafts offset lithograph during the 1970s. The original painting was recorded in the collection of Mary Jane Hewitt.
The image has since appeared in publications examining Samella Lewis's artistic career and reflects the figurative direction that characterized much of her work during this period. This original archive edition preserves that publication history while remaining faithful to Lewis's vision as both artist and publisher.
About the Artist
Dr. Samella Lewis (1924–2022) was an artist, art historian, curator, educator, publisher, and one of the most influential figures in the history of African American art.
A student of Elizabeth Catlett and Charles White, Lewis devoted her career not only to creating art, but also to documenting, publishing, and preserving the work of Black artists. She founded the Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles, co-edited the landmark Black Artists on Art volumes, established Contemporary Crafts as a pioneering publishing enterprise, and authored numerous books that helped shape the study of African American art.
About the Publisher
For more than five decades, Contemporary Crafts, Inc., under the direction of Dr. Samella Lewis, collaborated with many of the most significant African American artists of the twentieth century to publish, distribute, and preserve important works of art.
Today, the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive continues this mission by offering original publications directly from the historic archive.
Product Details
Artist: Dr. Samella Lewis
Title: Royal Sacrifice
Medium: Vintage Contemporary Crafts offset lithograph
Publisher: Contemporary Crafts, Inc.
Published: 1970s
Dimensions: 17½ × 23 inches
Condition: Archive Vintage Condition. Some impressions may exhibit light signs of age or handling consistent with long-term archival storage.
Condition Notes: This printing batch exhibits a subtle lighter band along the right margin, an original production characteristic that does not affect the printed image. Overall condition is assessed independently, and individual impressions may display minor variations consistent with vintage archival storage.
Framing: Unframed
Documentation: Certificate of Authenticity included.
Availability
Offered directly from the Samella Lewis Publishing Archive. Only 50 original vintage impressions from this archive release will be made available.
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 before shipment and carefully packaged to museum standards.
Your print 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.