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There are variations in the fabrics used in the 3 known impressions of this composition, as is commonly found in the old fabrics Bourgeois chose to use as printing surfaces. Discoloration is visible in this impression. One example with a plain fabric sheet has not been reproduced, due to its similarity to the example seen here.
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.
Artist’s Remarks:
Inscribed on the recto of a related drawing, "The Mot pitié m'a apaisée," 2002, red ink and pencil on paper: "Je ne lis pas, j'ecris dans mon lit, / Peut etre devrai je avoir peur mais j'ai pas peur / tort arrive a qui sait attendre son / patient [?], ne desespere pas. / flageolet flageoler / You are my sunshine / my little sunshine you shine away when the / skies are grey— / please don't take take my sunshine away—"
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