Cat. No. 420/IV
Follow the Child within You
- State/Variant:
- State IV of VII
- Date:
- 1998
- Themes:
- Figures, Motherhood & Family, Nature, Objects
- Techniques:
- Drypoint, Engraving
- Description:
- Drypoint and engraving, with black and red and blue watercolor, red ink, and blue gouache additions
- Support:
- Smooth, wove paper
- Dimensions:
- plate: 16 7/8 x 13 7/8" (42.9 x 35.3 cm); sheet (irreg.): 23 7/16 x 19 7/16" (59.5 x 49.4 cm)
- Signature:
- "LB" lower right margin, red ink.
- Inscription:
- "AP" lower left margin, red ink, artist's hand.
- Publisher:
- unpublished
- Printer:
- Harlan & Weaver, New York
- Edition:
- 1 known impression of state IV
- Impression:
- Not numbered
- Edition Information:
- Proof before the editioning of state VII.
The "AP" inscription, in the artist's hand, does not indicate a conventional A.P. impression, which would be of the final state. - State Changes and Additions:
-
Matrices:
The progression of this composition, as seen in the Evolving Composition Diagram below, involved 3 plates.
Plate 1: boat outline and shading, waves, sky details, light sketch of figures in boat; usually printed in blue.
Plate 2: detailed figures in boat and rim of boat; printed in red.
Plate 3: shading in ocean; printed in blue.
State Changes:
Plate 2 printed in red, over plate 1 printed in blue.
Change from state III, by burnishing: deep burr on figures’ heads removed.
Addition in blue watercolor: tonal shading of ocean and sky, anticipating state VII. - Background:
- State VII of this composition was published as a benefit for Harlem Family Institute, New York. The Harlem Family Institute is a multicultural psychoanalytic training institute in New York, founded in 1991. As of 2014, it provides two community services: free or affordable therapy to children and parents in underserved areas of New York, and training for aspiring psychoanalysts from diverse backgrounds. (A promotional brochure for the benefit edition gave an incorrect title, "Follow the Child in You" rather than "Follow the Child within You.")
- Artist’s Remarks:
- Inscribed on the verso of the source drawing: "when you do not know what to do follow the child within you"
- MoMA Credit Line:
- Gift of the artist
- MoMA Accession Number:
- 779.2008
- This Work in Other Collections:
- Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY