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LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Louise Bourgeois: Complete Books & Prints
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Cat. No. 458/II (fabric)

Robert, plate 3 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait

State/Variant:
State II of II
Date:
2009
Series:
Self Portrait (View All)
Themes:
Body Parts, Fabric Works, Faces & Portraits, Figures, Motherhood & Family
Techniques:
Drypoint, Etching
Description:
Drypoint and etching
Support:
Fabric
Dimensions:
plate: 4 15/16 x 3 3/8" (12.5 x 8.6 cm); sheet: 15 1/2 x 12 1/2" (39.4 x 31.8 cm)
Signature:
"LB" right lower margin, stitched in brown thread.
Publisher:
The artist
Printer:
Harlan & Weaver, New York
Edition:
4; plus 1 A.P.
Impression:
"No. 3/5" lower middle sheet verso, black ink, unknown hand.
Edition Information:
There are 2 known variant impressions of state II, outside the edition. One is printed on paper and is included in the Evolving Composition Diagram below. The other 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 included in the "Self 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.

There are variations in the fabrics used in this edition, including scorching or staining, as is commonly found in the old fabrics Bourgeois chose to use as printing surfaces.

Dimensions vary slightly throughout the edition because of hemming and stretching fluctuations.
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.
Installation Remarks:
The 24 compositions that make up this series can be exhibited together or individually.
Curatorial Remarks:
There are no source drawings for this series, unlike for many of Bourgeois's prints.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
110.2012.3

Robert, plate 3 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
2009

States

Louise Bourgeois. Robert, plate 3 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait. 2009
State II of II, variant
2009
Published Louise Bourgeois. Robert, plate 3 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait. 2009
State II of II
2009

Series
2009

Louise Bourgeois. Self Portrait. 2009
Self Portrait
2009
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