Louise Bourgeois. Tornado (1991-1992)

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IMAGE PERMISSIONS

Cat. No. 671.1/I, variant 3

Tornado

State/Variant:: Version 1 of 2, state I of V, variant
Date:: 1991-1992

Themes:: Abstraction, Nature, Spirals
Techniques:: Drypoint
Description:: Drypoint, with selective wiping
Support:: Smooth, wove paper
Dimensions:: plate: 17 15/16 × 13 5/16" (45.5 × 33.8 cm); sheet: 30 × 20 3/4" (76.2 × 52.7 cm)
Signature:: Not signed
Publisher:: unpublished
Printer:: Harlan & Weaver, New York
Edition:: 3 known variant impressions of version 1, state I
Impression:: Not numbered
Edition Information:: Not issued as a published edition at any state.
Background:: Bourgeois created this composition through the use of photocopy studies and a hammering technique. She transferred her source drawing to a copper plate by photocopying it and then hammering a nail through the photocopy (study 1) and into the plate. That made heavily indented round marks in the plate. There are no images of that plate or any known impressions from it.

Bourgeois then made a larger photocopy study (study 2) from the first photocopy study. She placed the enlarged photocopy on top of another thin copper plate, and, using the photocopy’s image as a guide, she hammered through the photocopy with a nail and a screwdriver to make round and dash-like indentations in the plate. The indentations show as raised markings on the back of the plate. Both sides of the plate are pictured in the Evolving Composition Diagram below.

Bourgeois printed impressions from both sides of the plate. The version 1 impressions were pulled from the front of the plate and the version 2 impression was pulled from the back of the plate.

The artist employed a similar technique in the 1992 print compositions “Merci. Mercy.” and “We Love You” seen in Related Works in the Catalogue below.
Curatorial Remarks:: In addition to the photocopies of the source drawing used to develop the print composition, Bourgeois used two photocopies as the basis for new untitled drawings. Both can be seen in Related Works in Other Mediums below.
Former Cat. No.:: W & S 124.1
MoMA Credit Line:: Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:: 626.1993