LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Themes:

Body Parts, Fabric Works, Figures

Techniques:

Drypoint

Description:

Drypoint, with 2 drypoint collage elements, and reddish watercolor, black ink, and pencil additions

Support:

Hahnemühle paper, and fabric

Dimensions:

plate: 4 1/4 x 2 3/4" (10.8 x 7 cm); sheet: 14 5/16" (36.4 cm)

Signature:

"Louise Bourgeois" lower right margin, pencil.

Publisher:

Carolina Nitsch Editions, New York

Printer:

Harlan & Weaver, New York

Edition:

15; 6 A.P., 3 P.P., 1 B.A.T., 1 H.C., 1 T.P.

Impression:

"6/15" lower left margin, pencil, unknown hand.

Edition Information:

There are 2 known variant impressions outside the edition.

This edition, including A.P., P.P., B.A.T., H.C., and T.P. impressions, comprises 27 works, each with hand additions that transform the hair of the female figures. All impressions have additions in reddish watercolor; one A.P. impression also has additions in blue watercolor. A selection of impressions appears below in the Evoloving Composition Diagram to illustrate the kinds of variations found across the edition.

Benefit Work:

For New Museum, New York

Background:

New Museum is the only dedicated contemporary art museum in New York.

Curatorial Remarks:

The fabric collage elements are sewn together, and are adhered to the paper with cross stitches visible at the four outer corners.

The paper texture is not documented because this work is not in MoMA's collection and could not be examined in person.

The plate dimensions also could not be documented. The plate dimensions given come from the T.P. impression in MoMA's collection.

Other Remarks:

According to printer Harlan & Weaver, Bourgeois used one oval plate, drawn on both sides, to make this composition.

© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY