LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Themes:

Body Parts, Faces & Portraits, Figures, Motherhood & Family

Techniques:

Drypoint, Etching

Description:

Drypoint and etching

Support:

Smooth, wove paper

Dimensions:

plate: 5 x 3 7/16" (12.7 x 8.8 cm); sheet: 10 5/8 x 9 9/16" (27 x 24.3 cm)

Signature:

Not signed

Publisher:

unpublished

Printer:

Harlan & Weaver, New York

Edition:

2 known variant impressions of state II, outside the edition

Impression:

Not numbered

Edition Information:

The other known variant impression of state II outside the edition is printed on fabric and has hand additions. It was incorporated into the fabric work, "Nature Study," in Related Works in the Catalogue below.

There is 1 known impression of state I of this composition. That impression is on fabric and is included in the "Selt Portrait" series set no. 1/5.

All 24 sheets that comprise set no. 1/5 are mounted on a single large table cloth and arranged in the formation of a clock. See the first work titled "Self Portrait" in Related Works in the Catalogue below. That composition includes, above the clock, at top left, one additional drypoint printed by Harlan & Weaver, New York, and at top middle and top right, two digital prints printed by Dyenamix, New York. Set nos. 2/5–5/5 and A.P. 1/1 do not include these three additional prints.

State Changes and Additions:

Changes from state I, in etching: figure shaded.

Background:

This series depicts the story of Bourgeois’s life. Beginning with an image of a young girl, it progresses through marriage and having children, and finally, to predominant themes in the artist's work.

The "Robert" of this title is Robert Goldwater, who was Bourgeois's husband and an American art historian.

Curatorial Remarks:

Unlike for many of Bourgeois's prints, there are no source drawings for this series.

MoMA Credit Line:

Gift of the artist

MoMA Accession Number:

1610.2012

© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY