Shoeshine Boy 1958

Elizabeth Catlett made this lithograph, "Shoeshine Boy", using stone, paper and ink. I find it so interesting how Catlett uses the lithographic crayon to create these areas of velvety darkness. It’s a real testament to understanding the medium and working with it, not against it. Look how she focuses on the boy's gaze, directing our attention upward, away from the grimy work at hand. The contrast between the rough texture of the shoeshine box and the smooth skin of the boy's face is really striking. Notice the details in the background, the suggestion of a Coca-Cola sign, the architecture indicating a specific time and place, grounding the image in a tangible reality. It reminds me a little bit of Jacob Lawrence, doesn't it? Ultimately, art is about asking questions, not giving answers, and Catlett certainly leaves us with a lot to think about.