Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature (1998)

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Louise Bourgeois. Untitled, plate 2 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature. 1998

NOT IN MoMA'S COLLECTION

Cat. No. 445/I

Untitled, plate 2 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature

State/Variant:: State I of II
Date:: 1998

Descriptive Title:: Tree with Split Trunk
Themes:: Nature
Techniques:: Drypoint
Description:: Drypoint
Dimensions:: plate: 21 7/8" (55.5 cm); sheet: 27 1/2 x 39 1/8" (69.9 x 99.4 cm)
Signature:: "LB" lower right margin, pencil.
Publisher:: unpublished
Printer:: Harlan & Weaver, New York
Edition:: 1 known impression of state I
Impression:: Not numbered
Edition Information:: Proof before the editioning of state II.
Background:: According to Bourgeois’s assistant Jerry Gorovoy, topiary work interested Bourgeois because the cutting and healing of the plant makes the tree stronger.

The editioned state II of this composition was published as a benefit for the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.
Artist’s Remarks:: Inscribed on the verso of the source drawing: "le 16 mars 1997 / pour toi pourquoi pourvoyer /pour elle pourquand pour parler / pour lui / pour tour pour de bon / pour nous pour ce soir / pour vous pour ansi dire / pour eux pour rire, par faire / nour elles"

Inscribed on the verso of related drawing, "Topiary," 1997: “Robert Hughes or John Russell / Vocabulary of the topiarist / Tree surgeon / The classical style is built on topiary / French garden, formality / Tivoli, the romantic 19th century English-garden / Care-giver – topiarist. = sculpture / The couple – cauterization / Flaming / TAR + shears / Antiseptic / Water=repellent / topiary AP. 97”

Written on a loose sheet, c. 1990s:
“Topiary
The trainer, the teacher, the carver, the butcher
To reject (cut off) and be moral about it
That is the fun
To nurture and train to full potential (valuable, useful)
I am going to cut (reject) everything in sight because I did not get what I wanted
What
To be loved by 1, 2, 3, 4
c’est la peur […]”
(The Easton Foundation: LB-0050)
Curatorial Remarks:: The paper type and plate dimensions of this impression could not be documented because this impression is not in MoMA's Collection and could not be examined in person. The plate dimensions are from the published impression in MoMA's Collection. The sheet dimensions were provided by the Louise Bourgeois Studio.
Public Collection:: Albright-Knox Art Gallery; Tate Modern, London; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Yale University Art Gallery