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ELIZABETH CATLETT (1915 - 2012)
Reclined Figure
.
Black marble, mounted on a stained wood base, 2005. 913x381x292 mm; 32x15x11
1
/
2
inches (not
including the base.) Incised “EC” initials, lower right side.
Provenance: acquired directly from the artist; private collection, Mexico.
Reclined Figure
embodies Catlett’s extensive late body of work in this beautiful and highly polished
black marble. Her later figures are more simplified and abstract, yet have distinctively strong form
and poses. As in her black marble
Seated Woman
, 1994,
Reclined Figure
has an unusual seated pose,
one that conveys the sense of a modern woman.There is a relaxed confidence to the upward gesture
of the head, and an abstracted simplicity in the hair and hem of a skirt
In 2002, Catlett made a 14 inch bronze version of this figure, with the title of
Mahalia
- an apparent
reference to the legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson.
[60,000/90,000]
