Louise Bourgeois. Spiral Woman (2002)

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NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION

Cat. No. 582/X

Spiral Woman

State/Variant:: State X of X
Date:: 2002

Themes:: Body Parts, Fabric Works, Figures, Spirals
Techniques:: Drypoint, Engraving
Description:: Drypoint and engraving, with selective wiping
Support:: Fabric
Dimensions:: plate: 11 1/2 x 9" (29.2 x 22.9 cm); sheet: 21 3/4 x 14 1/2" (55.2 x 36.8 cm)
Signature:: "LB" right lower margin, stitched in red thread.
Publisher:: Harlan & Weaver, New York
Printer:: Harlan & Weaver, New York
Edition:: 5 on fabric; and an edition of 35 on paper, with 7 A.P., 5 P.P., 2 H.C., 1 B.A.T., as plate 2 of 7 in the portfolio, "La Réparation"
Impression:: Not numbered
Edition Information:: Plate dimensions throughout this fabric edition may vary slightly due to stretching fluctuations. Since there is no fabric example in MoMA's collection, plate dimensions cited here refer to the edition on paper.

There are variations in the fabrics used in this edition, as is commonly found in the old fabrics Bourgeois chose to use as printing surfaces. Two varying examples are reproduced in the Evolving Composition Diagram below.

One example from the edition on fabric has what looks like registration marks, in red pencil, at the middle edge on all sides. These marks are not more fully documented because the work could not be examined in person.

There is 1 known impression of state X on paper, outside the edition. This impression is more lightly inked than editioned impressions and has a signature, "LB" in red, in the lower right margin. The additional impression is not illustrated due to its similarity to the editioned impressions.
State Changes and Additions:: Changes from state IX in drypoint: arms and legs further filled in.
Curatorial Remarks:: The filling in of the arms and legs was accomplished with a tangle of drypoint lines that were heavily inked.
Other Remarks:: According to the artist's assistant, Jerry Gorovoy, and printer Felix Harlan, the source for this print is the 1984 sculpture, "Spiral Woman." Harlan says that the closely related drawing from 2002 (seen below in Related Works in Other Mediums) was probably taken from an impression of the print. Bourgeois also made a photocopy of the drawing with hand additions. Both were made as part of the artist's working process midway through the platemaking.
Public Collection:: Harlan & Weaver, New York; Tate Modern, London
This Work in Other Collections:: Tate Modern, London (state X on paper)