LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Themes:

Figures, Objects

Techniques:

Drypoint

Description:

Drypoint

Support:

Smooth, wove handmade Gangolf paper

Dimensions:

plate: 5 1/2 x 9 15/16" (14 x 25.3 cm); sheet: 13 5/8 x 13 1/2" (34.6 x 34.3 cm)

Signature:

"Louise Bourgeois" lower right margin, pencil.

Publisher:

Harlan & Weaver, New York

Printer:

Harlan & Weaver, New York

Edition:

8; plus 2 A.P.

Impression:

"ap. 1/2" lower left margin, pencil, artist's hand.

Edition Information:

The edition of 8 was printed on Shojoshi Japanese paper.

State Changes and Additions:

Changes from version 1: two rows of figures eliminated; one row of figures transferred to new plate, in drypoint.
Changes from version 1 state I, in drypoint: long hair and high-heeled shoe on female figure further delineated.

Background:

According to the Louise Bourgeois Studio, this image is based on Bourgeois's observation of people lining up on Saturday morning to receive packages of food from the rectory of Saint Peter's Episcopal Church, located across the street from her home on West 20th Street. The artist also made a sculpture and a drypoint edition of the rectory building, both titled "The Rectory" and seen below as Related Works.

Artist’s Remarks:

Inscribed on the verso of the study: "les plus malheureux que toi" upper center sheet, pencil, artist's hand; "coude ou elbow / is moving." center sheet, pencil, artist's hand; "Crutches / bequilles [sic] / les boiteuses" lower right sheet, pencil, artist's hand.

© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY