Lovey Twice 1976

Elizabeth Catlett created 'Lovey Twice' using lithography on paper. It’s all in black and white, built up from these tiny, granular marks. I imagine Catlett working on the stone, carefully building up the image. Look at the two portraits of the woman, one facing forward, the other in profile. I wonder if she was thinking about doubling, mirroring, or even the many sides of a single person? Maybe she wanted to show the weight of the world that can sit on a person’s face. It’s incredible how much emotion she conveys with just a few well-placed marks. That textured background feels like a kind of atmosphere, almost like a storm or a heavy fog. It contrasts with the smooth skin of the faces, making them feel even more present and real. I keep thinking about other artists who worked with similar themes of identity and representation, like Faith Ringgold and Charles White. They're all in conversation, speaking to one another across time and space. Isn’t that what art is all about?