...and a special fear for my loved ones 1946

Elizabeth Catlett made this print, titled “...and a special fear for my loved ones,” in 1946. It is a linocut, meaning that the artist carved an image into a sheet of linoleum, then printed it on paper. The stark black and white contrast isn’t just aesthetic; it speaks to the directness and urgency of the image. The rough cuts into the linoleum give the print a palpable texture, almost like feeling the injustice it portrays. The image depicts a lynching, and the rough handling of the material underscores the violence of the scene. Linocut is a relatively accessible medium, often used for posters and social commentary, rather than the rarefied world of fine art. Catlett was deeply engaged in social issues, and she chose linocut to bring attention to the everyday realities of racial injustice. She used craft to confront power and to remember the victims of violence. By embracing this medium, Catlett blurred the boundaries between art, activism, and the shared experience of making.