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LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Louise Bourgeois: Complete Books & Prints
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Cat. No. 247/VIII, variant 1

Umbilical Cord

State/Variant:
State VIII of IX, variant
Date:
2000
Themes:
Figures, Motherhood & Family
Techniques:
Drypoint, Engraving
Description:
Engraving and drypoint, with red ink and blue watercolor additions
Support:
Smooth, thick wove paper
Dimensions:
plate: 10 7/8 x 8 7/16" (27.7 x 21.5 cm); sheet: 14 3/4 x 9 1/2" (37.5 x 24.2 cm)
Signature:
Not signed
Publisher:
unpublished
Printer:
Harlan & Weaver, New York
Edition:
3 known variant impressions of state VIII
Impression:
Not numbered
Edition Information:
Proof before the editioning of state VIII on fabric.
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from state VII in drypoint: both figures' hair further delineated.
Additions in red watercolor: female figure's body filled in; baby's body filled in, anticipating state IX.
Additions in blue watercolor: oval border slightly delineated, anticipating state IX.
Background:
"Umbilical Cord" relates to a monumental installation for the inaugural exhibition in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in 2000. The installation consisted of "Maman," a 30' steel sculpture of a spider, and "I Do, I Undo, I Redo," three steel towers ranging in height from 42' to 57'. Each tower contained a different sculpture of a mother and child inside a bell jar. The sculpture in the tower titled, "I Redo," featured a mother and child attached by an umbilical cord. Bourgeois also made another related print called "Do Not Abandon Me," 2000, which includes a similar mother and child.
Curatorial Remarks:
The red hand coloring is notably flat in this impression, suggesting that a stencil was used and the ink was rolled on, as was done for the state VI impressions. MoMA's Conservation Department has confirmed that the red ink was applied by hand and not through a stencil.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
1429.2012

Umbilical Cord
2000-2002

States

Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State I of IX
2000
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State II of IX
2000
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State III of IX
2000
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State IV of IX
2000
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State V of IX
2000
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State VI of IX, variant
2000
Published Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State VI of IX, variant
2000
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State VII of IX, variant
2000
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State VII of IX, variant
2000
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State VIII of IX, variant
2000
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State VIII of IX, variant
2000
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2000
State VIII of IX, variant
2000
Published NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2002
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION State VIII of IX
2002
Louise Bourgeois. Umbilical Cord. 2002
State IX of IX
2002