LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Alternate Title:

Study for Triptych for the Red Room (Chazen Art Museum title)

Themes:

Figures, Motherhood & Family

Techniques:

Drypoint

Description:

Drypoint, with ink and gouache additions

Support:

Paper (3 sheets)

Dimensions:

plate (a): 18 15/16 × 23 13/16" (48.1 × 60.5 cm); sheet (a): 27 3/4 × 37 1/2" (70.5 × 95.3 cm); plate (b): 18 13/16 × 35 9/16" (47.8 × 90.4 cm); sheet (b): 27 3/4 × 42" (70.5 × 106.7 cm); plate (c): 18 13/16 × 29 5/16" (47.8 × 74.4 cm); sheet (c): 27 3/4 × 32 1/4" (70.5 × 81.9 cm)

Signature:

"Louise Bourgeois" lower right margin [each sheet], pencil.

Publisher:

unpublished

Printer:

Harlan & Weaver, New York

Edition:

6 known variant triptychs, outside the final edition

Impression:

Not numbered

Edition Information:

This composition was issued as 4 separate editions:

Single sheet: “Arched Figure”: 50; plus 10 P.P. (numbered I/X-X/X)

Diptych: “Diptych for the Red Room”: 3

Triptych 1: “Arch of Hysteria” (photocopy; reduced size): 3 completed, of an announced edition of 7

Triptych 2: “Triptych for the Red Room”: 30; plus 10 A.P.

In the evolution of “Triptych for the Red Room,” the artist worked with impressions of components A, B, and C at various states. She also combined impressions at various states to create 6 unnumbered triptychs: three signed, with hand additions; two signed, with no hand additions; one unsigned, with no hand additions.

The Evolving Composition Diagram includes all works described above.

There are 4 printer's studies in MoMA's Collection (Accession Numbers: 470.2010, 471.2010, 472.2010, 473.2010). They are not illustrated here.

State Changes and Additions:

Matrices:
The progression of this composition involved 13 plates as well as photocopy versions of each component. The 13 plates included linear elements of the composition in drypoint and engraving; aquatint shading in the figures’ bodies; and various aquatint backgrounds.

State Changes:
Given the complexity of the development of this composition, the Evolving Composition Diagram is arranged by Component (A, B, and C for each sheet of this 3-sheet composition) and Format (single sheet, diptych and triptych) rather than by State and Version. State and Version changes are described, but specific plates (of the 13 utilized for this composition) are not identified.

(A): Changes from version 1: contours of composition enlarged and transferred to a new matrix, in drypoint.

(B): Changes from version 2: contours of composition enlarged and transferred to a new matrix, in drypoint.

(C): Changes from version 1: contours of composition enlarged and transferred to a new matrix, in drypoint.

Background:

"Triptych for the Red Room" was first exhibited in 1994 at Peter Blum Gallery with Bourgeois' related dual installation pieces, "Red Room (Parents)" and "Red Room (Child)" (see Related Works in Other Mediums).

Artist’s Remarks:

Inscribed on the source drawing for component C: "Which one are you? Today? / The tall one or the short one / I can be either one. / You have to be / Ready to deal / with a scene / like this. I could not / even carry the bundle"

Curatorial Remarks:

The primary image seen here is a composite of the three alternate views provided by Chazen Museum of Art. The image of the left panel was closely cropped around the plate mark. The sheets in the center and right panels are seen in paper corners on the lower left and lower right.

Catalogue Numbers for the various impressions refer to their location within the Evolving Composition Diagram, rather than to the version or state.

Public Collection:

Chazen Museum of Art

Chazen Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Elvehjem Museum of Art General Endowment Fund and Alexander and Henrietta W. Hollaendar Endowment Fund purchase, 1995.42a-c
© 2019 The Easton Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, NY