Elizabeth Catlett Homage Appraisal

Original Mixed Media Homage to Elizabeth Catlett by Courtney Jolliff

This original contemporary artwork is a mixed media piece created on a found page from The New York Times, dating from 2024. The work serves as a stylistic homage to the celebrated African American artist Elizabeth Catlett, specifically referencing her iconic woodcut 'Sharecropper.' The central image features a powerful portrait of a Black woman in a wide-brimmed hat, executed with heavy, expressive linework that mimics the aesthetic of relief printing. Artist Courtney Jolliff has layered his own signature graffiti-inspired elements over the print and newspaper text, including a hand-drawn gold and black crown, circular motifs, and bold vertical script reading 'ELIZABETH' and 'SAVIOR COMPLEX.' The use of found newspaper provides a poignant socio-political backdrop, featuring headlines regarding modern political tensions. The piece is characterized by its raw, urgent texture and the juxtaposition of historical artistic tradition with street-art sensibilities. Condition-wise, the piece shows intentional rumpling and irregular edges characteristic of found-object art, with no significant structural damage but visible handling related to the creative process. The craftsmanship skillfully balances the refined technicality of the figure's shading with the spontaneous, gestural quality of the marker and paint additions.