LOUISE BOURGEOIS: COMPLETE BOOKS & PRINTS

Alternate Title:

Shoelaces

Themes:

Objects

Techniques:

Drypoint, Photogravure

Description:

Photogravure and drypoint

Support:

Smooth, wove Rives BFK paper

Dimensions:

plate: 16 7/8 x 12 15/16" (42.8 x 32.9 cm); sheet: 26 x 19 11/16" (66 x 50 cm)

Signature:

Not signed

Publisher:

unpublished

Printer:

Gravure, New York

Edition:

3 known impressions of state II, 1 with chine collé

Impression:

Not numbered

Edition Information:

Not issued as a published edition at any state.

The other known impressions of state II are outside MoMA's Collection. One of these impressions includes pink chine collé, as seen below in state I of the Evolving Composition Diagram.

State Changes and Additions:

Changes from state II, in drypoint: composition reinforced overall.

Artist’s Remarks:

In an interview for the 1994 catalogue "The Prints of Louise Bourgeois," the artist discussed "Lacing": "This represents perfection. It is the solution of a problem, by putting the problem on a grid. That lacing looks like a grid, all right!
"How do you deal with self-restraint? You can make self-restraint a pleasant thing to look at. This lacing is very eloquent. It represents the saving grace of manipulation... if you get it perfect, you are in full control. You must know how to use your control. .. it must be [used] progressively and with savoir faire! This is simply lovely."
(Quote cited in Wye, Deborah and Carol Smith. "The Prints of Louise Bourgeois." New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1994, p. 239.)

Curatorial Remarks:

Bourgeois admired the printing facilities of the Gravure workshop and also felt a personal rapport with the owner and master printer, Christian Guérin. Guérin helped the artist develop plates for several important projects in the early 1990s.

Former Cat. No.:

W & S B10

MoMA Credit Line:

Gift of the artist

MoMA Accession Number:

554.1993

© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY