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LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Louise Bourgeois: Complete Books & Prints
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Cat. No. 351/IX, variant 3

Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature

State/Variant:
State IX of X, variant
Date:
c. 2003
Themes:
Fabric Works, Figures
Techniques:
Drypoint
Description:
Drypoint, with selective wiping
Support:
Silk
Dimensions:
plate: 4 11/16 x 5 13/16" (11.9 x 14.7 cm); sheet: 10 7/8 x 11 1/4" (27.7 x 28.5 cm)
Signature:
Not signed
Publisher:
unpublished
Printer:
Harlan & Weaver, New York
Edition:
4 known variant impressions of state IX on fabric
Impression:
Not numbered
Edition Information:
Proof outside the illustrated book edition of state IX on paper, and before the illustrated book edition of state X on fabric.

This impression is part of a set of plates printed in red on silk, but none of the impressions in this set are initialed and therefore the set is not considered a completed series. There is another set of plates, from c. 2006, printed in red on paper, with no signatures. This set is also not considered to be a completed series.

There are several unpublished but signed formats of “The Laws of Nature:” a series on fabric, printed in black, in 2 known examples; a series on fabric, printed in red, in 1 known example; and a series printed on a scarf, with plates in a different order, printed in black. (See the Evolving Composition Diagram.) The states of the plates within the various series sometimes differ from the states of the plates within the published editions.
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from state VIII in drypoint: both figure's hands reconfigured; male figure's hair reconfigured, his right knee and left calf slightly reconfigured.
Background:
The artist told printer Felix Harlan that the figures in this series are playing an adult version of a French children's game, known as "faire des galipettes," meaning to do somersaults. In fact, the expression "faire des galipettes" is also slang for having sex, a punning reference that Bourgeois must have enjoyed.
Curatorial Remarks:
In contrast to the designation "illustrated book," which contains text, this catalogue designates as a "series" those instances where there is no text accompanying a group of related plates. Since the prints in this group are not initialed, the group is not considered a completed series.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
82.2012

Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
2003-2006

States

Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2000-2001
State I of X
2000-2001
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2000-2001
State II of X, variant
2000-2001
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2000-2001
State II of X, variant
2000-2001
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2000-2001
State II of X, variant
2000-2001
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2000-2001
State III of X
2000-2001
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2000-2001
State IV of X, variant
2000-2001
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2000-2001
State IV of X, variant
2000-2001
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2000-2001
State V of X
2000-2001
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature. 2001
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION State VI of X
2001
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2001
State VII of X, variant
2001
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature. c. 2003
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION State VII of X, variant
c. 2003
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2001-2003
State VIII of X
2001-2003
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature. c. 2003
State IX of X, variant
c. 2003
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature. c. 2003
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION State IX of X, variant
c. 2003
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. c. 2003
State IX of X, variant
c. 2003
Published Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2003
State IX of X
2003
Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. c. 2006
State X of X, variant
c. 2006
Published Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. 2006
State X of X
2006

Illustrated Book
2003

Louise Bourgeois. The Laws of Nature. 2003
The Laws of Nature
2003
More About This Work

Illustrated Book
2006

Louise Bourgeois. The Laws of Nature. 2006
The Laws of Nature
2006
More About This Work

Series
c. 2003

Louise Bourgeois. The Laws of Nature. c. 2003
The Laws of Nature
c. 2003
More About This Work

Series
2001-2003

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. The Laws of Nature. 2001-2003
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION The Laws of Nature
2001-2003
More About This Work

Series
c. 2003

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. The Laws of Nature. c. 2003
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION The Laws of Nature
c. 2003
More About This Work

Series
c. 2003

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION Louise Bourgeois. The Laws of Nature. c. 2003
NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION The Laws of Nature
c. 2003
More About This Work