MoMA
A-|A+

LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Louise Bourgeois: Complete Books & Prints
Advanced Search

View Works Chronologically:

Compositions (1,574)
Sheets (5,410)



Showing 64 of 233

Cat. No. 515/I

Lacing

State/Variant:
State II of II
Date:
1990
Alternate Title:
Shoelaces
Themes:
Objects
Techniques:
Drypoint, Photogravure
Description:
Photogravure and drypoint
Support:
Smooth, wove Rives BFK paper
Dimensions:
plate: 16 7/8 x 12 15/16" (42.8 x 32.9 cm); sheet: 26 x 19 11/16" (66 x 50 cm)
Signature:
Not signed
Publisher:
unpublished
Printer:
Gravure, New York
Edition:
3 known impressions of state II, 1 with chine collé
Impression:
Not numbered
Edition Information:
Not issued as a published edition at any state.

The other known impressions of state II are outside MoMA's Collection. One of these impressions includes pink chine collé, as seen below in state I of the Evolving Composition Diagram.
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from state II, in drypoint: composition reinforced overall.
Artist’s Remarks:
In an interview for the 1994 catalogue "The Prints of Louise Bourgeois," the artist discussed "Lacing": "This represents perfection. It is the solution of a problem, by putting the problem on a grid. That lacing looks like a grid, all right!
"How do you deal with self-restraint? You can make self-restraint a pleasant thing to look at. This lacing is very eloquent. It represents the saving grace of manipulation... if you get it perfect, you are in full control. You must know how to use your control. .. it must be [used] progressively and with savoir faire! This is simply lovely."
(Quote cited in Wye, Deborah and Carol Smith. "The Prints of Louise Bourgeois." New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1994, p. 239.)
Curatorial Remarks:
Bourgeois admired the printing facilities of the Gravure workshop and also felt a personal rapport with the owner and master printer, Christian Guérin. Guérin helped the artist develop plates for several important projects in the early 1990s.
Former Cat. No.:
W & S B10
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
554.1993

Lacing
1990

Source
1988

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Untitled. 1988
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Untitled
Ink on paper
1988

States

Louise Bourgeois. Lacing. 1990
State I of II
1990
Louise Bourgeois. Lacing. 1990
State II of II
1990