Mothers, children, stereotypes, and visual culture: The African-American experience interpreted through art, 1940 to 2000

Throughout her more than six decades of artistic expression, Elizabeth Catlett continuously examines and re-examines the relationship between the Black mother and her child. Catlett renders the image of a mother and child in an intimate and reflective manner as she visually explores the intrinsic bond between mother, child, and the poignancy of reunion. Her own experiences and the recounted stories of her relatives who endured slavery empower her compositions to speak clearly to the issues of separation and reunion.;This dissertation presents a critical interpretation of Elizabeth Catlett's sculptural portraits of the mother and child. It examines Catlett's use of style in the context of her personal experiences. Moreover, Catlett's work spanning the period 1940 to 2000 receives particular attention. Overall, this dissertation shows Catlett's ingenious ability to marry medium with message.;Additionally, this dissertation examines critical aspects of the African American mother and child which addresses cultural identity and survival of the Black community. Catlett and other artists render positive images to challenge racial stereotypes designed to misinterpret the Black experience. In essence, this study reveals a personal perspective of visual art used as a vital tool to correct and enhance general public knowledge of the African American heritage.