She taught in New Orleans, New York City and was Director of the School of Fine Arts Sculpture Department of the National University of Mexico before her retirement in 1976. Elizabeth Catlett has received numerous degrees and awards in the visual arts, and is recognized especially as a woman who has dedicated her life and her art to the betterment of all people and to the fight against injustice and oppression. Material for this biographical sketch has been compliedby Ann K. Stewart. Printmaking This print is one of a suite of 14 woodcut prints created by Elizabeth Catlett to tell the story of the black woman in America. From among the many printmaking processes Elizabeth Catlett selected woodcut as the method of producing I Have Special Reservations.
Woodcut prints are examples of the relief process.
In the relief process only the raise areas are printed. Those areas not to be printed are cut away below the original surface of the plate or block. Ink is applied to the raised surface areas with a hard roller or brayer and transferred to the paper by rubbing. In woodcut prints, knives, gouges, and chisels are used to cut the areas not to be printed out of the plank grain wood block. In looking at a woodcut print you usually can see the texture of the wood inprinted onto the paper.