LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Descriptive Title:

Spiral with Heads

Themes:

Faces & Portraits, Spirals

Techniques:

Drypoint

Description:

Drypoint

Support:

Smooth, wove paper

Dimensions:

plate: 7 7/8 x 8 1/4" (20 x 21 cm); sheet: 14 15/16 x 14" (38 x 35.5 cm)

Signature:

"LB" lower right margin, blue ink.

Publisher:

unpublished

Printer:

Harlan & Weaver, New York

Edition:

2 known impressions of version 2, only state

Impression:

Not numbered

Edition Information:

Not issued as a published edition in any version or state.

The second known impression of this state is in MoMA's Collection (Accession Number: 1271.2012). It is not illustrated, due to its similarity to the impression seen here.

State Changes and Additions:

Changes from version 1: composition transferred to a new plate at a slightly increased scale, in drypoint.

Curatorial Remarks:

The first version of this composition was coordinated by the publisher Galerie Lelong, Paris, and was printed at Atelier Lelong, their affiliate workshop. It was being considered for an edition but was ultimately not pursued.

In 1994, the second version was made with Harlan & Weaver, New York. According to Felix Harlan, it is possible that the artist was considering this composition for inclusion in "Autobiographical Series," a portfolio based primarily on drawings from the 1940s (see Related Works in the Catalogue below). It was not published at that time either.

MoMA Credit Line:

Gift of the artist

MoMA Accession Number:

642.1996

© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY