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LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Louise Bourgeois: Complete Books & Prints
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Cat. No. 1071/triptych 2

Triptych for the Red Room

State/Variant:
Component A: version 2 of 2, state VIII of VIII; Component B: version 3 of 3, state VI of VI; Component C: version 2 of 2, state IX of IX
Date:
1994
Themes:
Figures, Motherhood & Family
Techniques:
Aquatint, Drypoint, Engraving
Description:
Aquatint, drypoint, and engraving
Support:
Smooth, wove Hahnemühle paper (3 sheets)
Dimensions:
plate (a): 18 15/16 x 23 13/16" (48.1 x 60.5 cm); sheet (a): 27 13/16 x 32 5/16" (70.6 x 82.1 cm); plate (b): 18 13/16 x 35 9/16" (47.8 x 90.4 cm); sheet (b): 27 13/16 x 42 1/16" (70.7 x 106.8 cm); plate (c): 18 13/16 x 29 5/16" (47.8 x 74.4 cm); sheet (c): 27 7/8 x 37 5/8" (70.8 x 95.5 cm)
Signature:
Each signed "Louise Bourgeois" lower right margin, pencil.
Inscription:
Verso (a): "Bring other plate / back" lower center sheet, brown colored pencil, artist's hand.

Inscribed on the source drawing for component C: "Which one are you? Today? / The tall one or the short one / I can be either one. / You have to be / Ready to deal /
with a scene / like this. I could not / even carry the bundle"
Publisher:
Peter Blum Edition, New York
Printer:
Harlan & Weaver, New York
Edition:
30; plus 10 A.P. (numbered I/X - X/X)
Impression:
"X/X"
Edition Information:
There are 2 known variant impressions of the version 1, outside the edition.

One known variant impression of version 1, including chine collé, is not illustrated. It is in the collection of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

This composition was issued as 4 separate editions:

Single sheet: “Arched Figure”: 50; plus 10 P.P. (numbered I/X-X/X)

Diptych: “Diptych for the Red Room”: 3

Triptych 1: “Arch of Hysteria” (photocopy; reduced size): 3 completed, of an announced edition of 7

Triptych 2: “Triptych for the Red Room”: 30; plus 10 A.P.

In the evolution of “Triptych for the Red Room,” the artist worked with impressions of components A, B, and C at various states. She also combined impressions at various states to create 6 unnumbered triptychs: three signed, with hand additions; two signed, with no hand additions; one unsigned, with no hand additions.

The Evolving Composition Diagram includes all works described above.

There are 4 printer's studies in MoMA's Collection (Accession Numbers: 470.2010, 471.2010, 472.2010, 473.2010). They are not illustrated here.
State Changes and Additions:
Matrices:
The progression of this composition involved 13 plates as well as photocopy versions of each component. The 13 plates included linear elements of the composition in drypoint and engraving; aquatint shading in the figures’ bodies; and various aquatint backgrounds.

State Changes:
Given the complexity of the development of this composition, the Evolving Composition Diagram is arranged by Component (A, B, and C for each sheet of this 3-sheet composition) and Format (single sheet, diptych and triptych) rather than by State and Version. State and Version changes are described, but specific plates (of the 13 utilized for this composition) are not identified.

(A): Changes from version 2, state VII, by burnishing: stray aquatint removed from adult’s ribs.
Changes from version 2, state VII, in aquatint: new layer of aquatint added to background.

(B): Changes from version 3, state V, by burnishing: stray aquatint removed from arched child’s arms; hatching removed from arched child’s lower ribcage.
Changes from version 3, state V, in drypoint: hatched lines in adult female connected to create vertical lines.

(C): Changes from version 2, state VIII, by burnishing: shading in child’s shoulder partially removed; intersecting lines and overlapping aquatint removed from adult’s right exterior ribcage; stray aquatint removed right side of child’s ribs and forehead.
Changes from version 2, state VIII, in drypoint: shading on adult’s stomach reinforced.
Background:
"Triptych for the Red Room" was first exhibited in 1994 at Peter Blum Gallery with Bourgeois' related dual installation pieces, "Red Room (Parents)" and "Red Room (Child)" (see Related Works in Other Mediums).
Artist’s Remarks:
Inscribed on the source drawing for component C: "Which one are you? Today? / The tall one or the short one / I can be either one. / You have to be / Ready to deal / with a scene / like this. I could not / even carry the bundle"
Curatorial Remarks:
Catalogue Numbers for the various impressions refer to their location within the Evolving Composition Diagram, rather than to the version or state.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
46.1998.a-c
This Work in Other Collections:
Cleveland Museum of Art, OH
Davis Museum, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Junta de Andalucia Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo, Spain
Tate Modern, London
Tate Modern, London and National Galleries Scotland, Edinburgh. Lent by the Artist Rooms Foundation

Arched Figure; Arch of Hysteria; Diptych for the Red Room; Triptych for the Red...
1992-2000

Source
1992

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Altered States. 1992
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Altered States
Gouache, ink, and pencil on paper
1992

Source
1992

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Arch of Hysteria (double-sided). 1992
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Arch of Hysteria (double-sided)
Ink, pencil, and crayon on graph paper
1992

Source
1991

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Untitled. 1991
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Untitled
Watercolor and ink on paper
1991

Component A

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Triptych for the Red Room
Component A: version 2 of 2, state VI of VIII
1994

Study for Component B

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Untitled (Study for Arch of Hysteria). 1992
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Untitled (Study for Arch of Hysteria)
Study
1992

Component B

Louise Bourgeois. Arched Figure. 1992-1993
Arched Figure
Component B: version 1 of 3, only state, variant
1992-1993
Published Louise Bourgeois. Arched Figure. 1992
Arched Figure
Component B: version 1 of 3, only state
1992

Component C

Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994
Triptych for the Red Room
Component C: version 2 of 2, state V of IX
1994
Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994
Triptych for the Red Room
Component C: version 2 of 2, state VII of IX
1994
Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994
Triptych for the Red Room
Component C: version 2 of 2, state VIII of IX
1994

Diptych

Published Louise Bourgeois. Diptych for the Red Room. 1994
Diptych for the Red Room
Component A: version 2 of 2, state III of VIII; Component C: version 2 of 2, state III of IX
1994

Triptych

Published NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Arch of Hysteria. 1994
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Arch of Hysteria
Component A: version 1 of 2, only state; Component B: version 2 of 3, only state; Component C: version 1 of 2, only state
1994
Published NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Arch of Hysteria. 1994
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Arch of Hysteria
Component A: version 1 of 2, only state; Component B: version 2 of 3, only state; Component C: version 1 of 2, only state
1994
Published NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Arch of Hysteria. 1994
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Arch of Hysteria
Component A: version 1 of 2, only state; Component B: version 2 of 3, only state; Component C: version 1 of 2, only state
1994
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Triptych for the Red Room
Component A: version 2 of 2, state I of VIII; Component B: version 3 of 3, state I of VI; Component C: version 2 of 2, state I of IX
1994
Published NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Triptych for the Red Room
Component A: version 2 of 2, state II of VIII; Component B: version 3 of 3, state II of VI; Component C: version 2 of 2, state II of IX
1994
Published NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994-2000
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Triptych for the Red Room
Component A: version 2 of 2, state III of VIII; Component B: version 3 of 3, state IV of VI, variant; Component C: version 2 of 2, state III of IX
1994-2000
Published NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Triptych for the Red Room
Component A: version 2 of 2, state IV of VIII; Component B: version 3 of 3, state III of VI, variant; Component C: version 2 of 2, state IV of IX
1994
Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994
Triptych for the Red Room
Component A: version 2 of 2, state V of VIII; Component B: version 3 of 3, state V of VI; Component C: version 2 of 2, state VI of IX
1994
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Triptych for the Red Room
Component A: version 2 of 2, state VII of VIII; Component B: version 3 of 3, state VI of VI; Component C: version 2 of 2, state IX of IX
1994
Published Louise Bourgeois. Triptych for the Red Room. 1994
Triptych for the Red Room
Component A: version 2 of 2, state VIII of VIII; Component B: version 3 of 3, state VI of VI; Component C: version 2 of 2, state IX of IX
1994