About This Artwork

Elizabeth Catlett
American, born 1915

Special Houses, 1946, printed 1989

Linocut on cream wove paper
108 x 150 mm (image); 200 x 255 mm (sheet)
Restricted gift of The Leadership Advisory Committee, 2005.142.2

The I Am the Black Woman series (previously called Negro Women) is composed of 15 linocuts accompanied by explanatory titles and texts. The series celebrates the courage and determination of female heroines of African American history, as well as the valor, integrity, and resolve of ordinary women. The Art Institute’s three prints from the series focus on the daily struggles of African American women. Aesthetically, the entire series is characterized by an emphasis on figural simplicity. A palpable sense of movement and a lack of excessive detail are visible throughout the series. This print, Special Houses, addresses the issue of segregated housing and the experiences of African Americans in crowded northern cities.