LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Themes:

Abstraction, Spirals

Techniques:

Relief

Description:

Woodcut

Support:

Smooth, thin, handmade Echizen Shikibu Gampi paper

Dimensions:

sheet: 14 x 16 5/8" (35.5 x 42.2 cm)

Signature:

"LB" lower right sheet, pencil.

Inscription:

"12" left lower sheet, pencil, artist's hand.

Publisher:

The artist

Printer:

Watanabe Studio, Brooklyn, NY

Edition:

15; plus 1 A.P.

Impression:

A.P. 1/1

Edition Information:

The Louise Bourgeois Studio has noted that Impression numbers, and numbers indicating sequence, are inscribed on the verso of each sheet; in addition, sheet no. 12 is signed on the verso: “Louise Bourgeois.” MoMA’s set has different numbering and signatures: the sequence numbers are inscribed, in the artist’s hand, on the recto of each sheet, and an “LB” signature is also on the recto of each sheet; Impression numbers do not appear on the recto or verso of any sheet.

State Changes and Additions:

Matrices:
Block 1: background (uncarved woodblock)

Block 2: spiral

Background:

The source drawings for no. 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 in this series come from the 2005 drawings series, “Je t’aime,” which has 60 double-sided drawings in all. The other five compositions in the “Spirals” series are independent of “Je t’aime.”

Installation Remarks:

This composition is one of 12 that constitute a single work of art. All of these compositions are to be exhibited together and in the indicated sequence.

Curatorial Remarks:

Images of nos. 2 and 8 from this series were made into teacup and saucer merchandise items, and no. 10 was made into a T-shirt merchandise item.

MoMA Credit Line:

Gift of the artist

MoMA Accession Number:

719.2006.12

This Work in Other Collections:

Tate Modern, London and National Galleries Scotland, Edinburgh. Lent by the Artist Rooms Foundation.

© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY