Louise Bourgeois. Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses (c. 1990)

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Louise Bourgeois. Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses. c. 1990

IMAGE PERMISSIONS

Cat. No. 1054.3/I

Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses

State/Variant:: Version 3 of 3, state I of II
Date:: c. 1990

Themes:: Architecture
Techniques:: Engraving
Description:: Engraving
Support:: Smooth, wove paper
Dimensions:: plate: 6 7/16 x 5 15/16" (16.4 x 15.1 cm); sheet: 14 15/16 x 11 3/16" (38 x 28.4 cm)
Signature:: Not signed
Publisher:: unpublished
Printer:: Gravure, New York
Edition:: 1 known impression of version 3, state I
Impression:: Not numbered
Edition Information:: Not issued as a published edition at any state.
State Changes and Additions:: Changes from version 2: composition transferred almost exactly to a new plate with several vertical and horizontal lines reinforced, in engraving.
Background:: 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, including this composition, which is related to her 1947 illustrated book, “He Disappeared into Complete Silence” (see Related Works in the Catalogue). Bourgeois had long hoped to reissue this book but the plates no longer existed. She thought Guérin might assist her. In order to determine if his engraving would be suitable for the project, she asked him to attempt similar compositions. After these trials, he assisted in engraving versions of plates 2 and 6 of “He Disappeared into Complete Silence.”
Artist’s Remarks:: "This is much freer than 'He Disappeared into Complete Silence' ... there is a change of mood. The lack of a ground line gives them freedom... they are very confident... they don't need much control. There is a relationship between them... they stand together and they stand alone... safe and secure... sometimes passive... sometimes active. Sometimes I'm the mother... sometimes I'm being taken care of." The figure on the left has "wide-open eyes... he is as alert as can be. He stands in front of her, making himself important." (Quote cited in Wye, Deborah and Carol Smith. "The Prints of Louise Bourgeois." New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1994, p. 240.)
Former Cat. No.:: W & S B12.2
MoMA Credit Line:: Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:: 557.1993