LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Themes:

Fabric Works, Words

Techniques:

Lithography

Description:

Lithograph

Support:

Fabric

Dimensions:

sheet: 9 1/4 x 11 1/2" (23.5 x 29.2 cm)

Signature:

"LB" right lower sheet, stitched in red thread.

Publisher:

Lison Editions, New York (Louise Bourgeois)

Printer:

SOLO Impression, New York

Edition:

3

Impression:

1/3

Edition Information:

The text in the first edition of this composition, entitled "Mr. No Thank You I," is larger than in the second edition. An example from each edition is included in the Evolving Composition Diagram below.

There are variations in the fabrics used in this edition, as is commonly found in the old fabrics Bourgeois chose to use as printing surfaces. Staining is visible in this impression.

Sheet dimensions throughout the edition vary slightly because of hemming and stretching fluctuations.

State Changes and Additions:

Changes from version 1: composition reduced in size.

Background:

The text in this composition comes from Bourgeois's voluminous writings—in her diaries, on loose sheets, or on the verso of drawings. The specific source and date of this text are not known.

During the early 2000s, Bourgeois worked with SOLO Impression on the editioned version of "Ode à l'oubli," a book of fabric collages and two lithographed text pages. The phrases on those text pages came from her writings. Inspired by that collaboration, Bourgeois created several individual printed fabric works with lithographed texts.

Curatorial Remarks:

The impression inscription is not documented because this work is not in MoMA’s collection and could not be examined in person. The impression number was provided by the Louise Bourgeois Studio.

A card case merchandise item was made from this composition.

Other Remarks:

According to the artist's assistant, Jerry Gorovoy, "Mr. No Thank You" is a reference to her son, Alain Bourgeois.

© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY