LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Descriptive Title:

Rain on a Boat

Themes:

Figures, Nature, Objects

Techniques:

Drypoint

Description:

Drypoint, with red ink, blue and red colored pencil, pencil, and white correction fluid additions

Dimensions:

plate: 6 15/16 x 10 13/16" (17.7 x 27.5 cm); sheet: 11 1/4 x 15 3/8" (28.6 x 39.1 cm)

Signature:

"LB" right lower margin, blue colored pencil.

Inscription:

Verso: "It rains 40 days and 40 nights / Noahs Arc July 5 2003"

Publisher:

unpublished

Printer:

Harlan & Weaver, New York

Edition:

3 known variant impressions of state II

Edition Information:

Not issued as a published edition at any state.

State Changes and Additions:

Changes from state I: plate cut horizontally, removing top portion of sky.

Background:

The partially erased inscription ("Noam Chamsky / Chomskey") on the source drawing refers to Noam Chomsky (1928- ), an American linguist, philosopher, and cognitive scientist. According to the Louise Bourgeois Studio, the artist did not know Chomsky personally. Noah's ark may have been a word association with Noam.

Artist’s Remarks:

Inscribed on the source drawing: "Leo / Noam Chamsky / Chomskey / New York Time: / Best Seller paper back / l'arch of Noah / arch of Noah" center right to upper center sheet (written horizontally, partially erased), pencil, artist's hand; "40 days and 40 nights, it Rains" upper left to upper center sheet, pencil, artist's hand.

Curatorial Remarks:

The type of paper and dimensions of this impression could not be documented because this impression is not in MoMA's Collection and could not be examined in person. The plate dimensions are from the impression of state II in MoMA’s Collection. The sheet dimensions were provided by the Louise Bourgeois Studio.

© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY