Louise Bourgeois. Hold My Bones (2001-2002)

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Louise Bourgeois. Hold My Bones. 2001-2002

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Cat. No. 1212.2/III

Hold My Bones

State/Variant:: Version 2 of 2, state III of V
Date:: 2001-2002

Themes:: Body Parts
Techniques:: Drypoint
Description:: Drypoint, with red ink and red pencil additions
Support:: Smooth, wove paper
Dimensions:: plate: 3 9/16 x 4 1/2" (9 x 11.5 cm); sheet: 7 1/16 x 7 1/16" (18 x 18 cm)
Signature:: "LB" right lower margin, red ink.
Inscription:: Verso: "joy fear / sorrow anger- / 4 humors:: / bases of / psychology / Cardinal OR natural virtues / justice prudence [illeg.] / theological virtues fortitude / faith hope charity / Sins: laziness gourmandise / mensonge, jealousie medisance / envie" center sheet (upside down), pencil, artist's hand.
Publisher:: unpublished
Printer:: Harlan & Weaver, New York
Edition:: 1 known impression of version 2, state III
Impression:: Not numbered
Edition Information:: Not issued as a published edition at any state.
State Changes and Additions:: Changes from version 1, in drypoint: composition transferred to smaller plate.
Changes from version 2, state I, by burnishing: contour lines within shape partially removed; left end of shape removed.
Changes from version 2, state I, in drypoint: toes added to left end; right end further developed.
Addition in red pencil: line added to upper comp. to close rectangle, anticipating state IV.
Addition in red ink: big toe added, anticipating state IV.
Artist’s Remarks:: Inscribed on the source drawing: "Treaser Trove" (sic) upper right sheet, black ink, artist's hand; "I hold [obscured]" lower right sheet, pencil, artist's hand; "Hold my bones / together" lower right sheet, pencil, artist's hand.

About the source drawing, 1994: "This is my favorite drawing of all. It is a call for help. It means, 'Keep me together, do not abandon me, hold my bones together.' Speaking of the toi and moi! It should be called 'Friendship, The Value of Friendship.' I made this for Nigel Finch, the filmmaker. He just passed away." (Quote cited in Bourgeois, Louise and Lawrence Rinder. "Louise Bourgeois Drawings and Observations." Berkeley: University Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive University of California, Berkeley; Boston: Bulfinch Press, 1995, p. 175.)
Curatorial Remarks:: Nigel Finch (1949-1995) was a British filmmaker. In 1994, he directed a documentary about the artist titled "Louise Bourgeois: No Trespassing."
MoMA Credit Line:: Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:: 1494.2008