Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 1 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature (c. 2003)

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Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 1 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature. c. 2003

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Cat. No. 350/VIII, variant 5

Untitled, plate 1 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature

State/Variant:: State VIII of IX, variant
Date:: c. 2003

Themes:: Fabric Works, Figures
Techniques:: Drypoint
Description:: Drypoint, with selective wiping
Support:: Fabric (silk)
Dimensions:: plate: 4 3/4 x 5 11/16" (12 x 14.5 cm); sheet: 11 x 11 5/16" (28 x 28.8 cm)
Signature:: Not signed
Publisher:: unpublished
Printer:: Harlan & Weaver, New York
Edition:: 6 known variant impressions of state VIII on fabric
Impression:: Not numbered
Edition Information:: Proof outside the illustrated book edition of state VIII on paper, and before the illustrated book edition of state IX 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There are several unpublished but signed formats of “The Laws of Nature:” a series on fabric, printed in black, in 2 known examples; a series on fabric, printed in red, in 1 known example;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.
There is 1 additional initialed impression of this composition on fabric, printed in black. It does not make up part of a series and is not reproduced due to its similarity to the impressions in the series, seen here.
State Changes and Additions:: Changes from state VII in drypoint: female figure's hair further delineated.
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.
Other Remarks:: 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.
MoMA Credit Line:: Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:: 83.2012