MoMA
A-|A+

LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Louise Bourgeois: Complete Books & Prints
Advanced Search

View Works Chronologically:

Compositions (1,574)
Sheets (5,410)



Showing 1921 of 5410

Cat. No. 518.1/II, variant 1

Le Père et les 3 Fils

State/Variant:
Version 1 of 2, state II of II, variant
Date:
1999
Descriptive Title:
English translation: "The Father and the 3 Sons"
Themes:
Motherhood & Family, Objects
Techniques:
Lithography, Other
Description:
Lithograph and embossing, with blue pastel additions
Support:
Smooth, wove BFK Rives paper
Dimensions:
composition: 19 x 9 3/8" (48.2 x 23.8 cm); sheet: 21 1/4 x 17 5/16" (54 x 44 cm)
Signature:
Not signed
Publisher:
unpublished
Printer:
SOLO Impression, New York
Edition:
3 known impressions of version 1, state II
Impression:
Not numbered
Edition Information:
Proof before the editioning of version 2, only state.

Matrices:
The progression of version 1, as seen in the Evolving Composition Diagram below, involved 2 matrices in 2 different techniques.

Embossing matrix: outline of large chair and semicircle forms.

Lithography matrix: large chair and 3 small chairs.
State Changes and Additions:
Embossing and lithography matrices printed.
Changes from version 1, state I: embossing matrix added.
Background:
The edition of version 2, only state, was published as a benefit for Anthology Film Archives, New York.

The Anthology Film Archives is an international center for the preservation, study, and exhibition of film and video, with particular focus on independent, experimental, and avant-garde cinema. It hosts a reference library containing the world's largest collection of books, periodicals, stills, and other paper materials related to avant-garde cinema, as well as a remarkably innovative and eclectic film exhibition program. During her lifetime, Bourgeois served on the Board of Advisors with Nam June Paik, RoseLee Goldberg, and others involved in the world of cinema.

Bourgeois was married to American art historian, Robert Goldwater. The couple had three sons: Michel, Jean-Louis, and Alain.
Curatorial Remarks:
Bourgeois depicted version 1 of this composition in a single color, requiring only one lithographic matrix. In version 2, the artist printed the composition in 2 different shades of blue by introducing an additional lithographic matrix. In both versions 1 and 2, Bourgeois used an embossing matrix to emboss the outline of the large chair and the semicircle forms. The embossing was achieved through letterpress.
Other Remarks:
According to the artist's assistant, Jerry Gorovoy, the imagery of chairs may have been influenced by Bourgeois's father and his chair collection. The embossed semicircle forms seen in "Le Père et les 3 Fils" may be in reference to the areas of raised, tufted fabric on the tapestry upholstered chairs in her father's collection. The chair motif appears in Bourgeois's prints, drawings, and sculptures. The artist also included chairs, among other found objects, in various large-scale installations (see Related Works in the Catalogue below).
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
856.2008

Le Père et les 3 Fils
1998-1999

Source
1998

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Le Père et les 3 Fils. 1998
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Le Père et les 3 Fils
Ink and pencil on paper
1998

First Version

Louise Bourgeois. Le Père et les 3 Fils. 1998
Version 1 of 2, state I of II (lithography matrix)
1998
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Le Père. 1998
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Version 1 of 2, state I of II (embossing matrix)
1998
Louise Bourgeois. Le Père et les 3 Fils. 1999
Version 1 of 2, state II of II
1999
Louise Bourgeois. Le Père et les 3 Fils. 1999
Version 1 of 2, state II of II, variant
1999
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Le Père et les 3 Fils. 1999
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Version 1 of 2, state II of II, variant
1999

Second Version

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Le Père et les 3 Fils. 1999
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Version 2 of 2, only state
1999
Published Louise Bourgeois. Le Père et les 3 Fils. 1999
Version 2 of 2, only state
1999
Published NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Le Père et les 3 Fils. 1999
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Version 2 of 2, only state
1999