Lovey Twice

Elizabeth Catlett

1976 · Lithograph · Drawings and Prints

In Lovey Twice, Catlett combines abstraction and figuration to create one of her most enigmatic prints. The lithograph is dominated by a detailed portrait of a woman shown both head-on and from the side. In contrast, the background and bottom sections contain a texturally intricate abstract composition. Catlett created this effect by applying oil- and water-based materials to the stone surface before drawing the image. This technique frames the print, further calling attention to the woman’s face. Catlett saw her art—primarily prints and sculpture—as a means to inspire and inform people. Early in her career she decided to focus largely on Black women, who she felt had been neglected in art or, if depicted, shown through negative archetypes.

Artist

Elizabeth Catlett

Date

1976

Medium

Lithograph

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, Bertha and Isaac Liberman Foundation, 2021