Mother and Child

Cat. No. 230.2/III, variant

Mother and Child

State/Variant:
Version 2 of 2, state III of III, variant
Date:
1999
Themes
Architecture, Figures, Motherhood & Family
Techniques
Drypoint
Support:
Smooth, wove paper
Dimensions:
plate: 11 7/8 x 9 15/16" (30.1 x 25.2 cm); sheet: 15 3/8 x 13" (39 x 33.1 cm)
Signature:
"LB" lower right margin, pencil.
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
3 known impressions of version 2, state III, outside the editions on paper and fabric
Edition Information:
Bourgeois wrote "AP" in the location where an Artist's Proof would usually be designated. However, this impression is not among the Artist's Proofs in this edition, which are documented with a number. (See MoMA Accession Number 419.1999 in the Evolving Composition Diagram below.)

The third known impression of version 2, state III is in MoMA's Collection (Accession Number: 925.2008). Is not illustrated due to its simlarity to the impression seen here.
Impression:
"AP" lower left margin, pencil, artist's hand.
Curatorial Remarks:
Publisher Harlan & Weaver groups the editioned state of this composition on paper with ten other drypoints of 1999, under the title, “11 Drypoints.” Each of the 11 compositions can be displayed individually. The full set is as follows:
“The Accident”
“The Angry Cat”
“Don’t Put Your Foot in Your Mouth”
“Fear”
“Feet (Socks)”
“Fences Are Obsolete”
“Madeleine”
“Mosquito”
“Mother and Child”
“Please Hang in There”
“The Smell of the Feet”
Description:
Drypoint, with pencil and white gouache additions
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from version 2, state II in drypoint: female figure's hair and features further delineated; child's genitals and eye delineated; chimney-like elements filled in.
Distress marks lightened somewhat through inking and wiping.
Additions in white gouache: female figure's face and hair covered.
Additions in pencil: female figure's hair reconfigured and her face covered.
Other Remarks:
Printer Harlan & Weaver does not recall the reason for making the very similar version 2 of this composition.
Bibliography:
Malbert, Roger, and Juliet Mitchell. "Louise Bourgeois: Autobiographical Prints." London: Hayward, 2016. (Catalogue accompanying the touring exhibition "Louise Bourgeois Prints: Autobiographical Series and 11 Drypoints".)
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
924.2008
This Work in Other Collections:
The Detroit Institute of Arts, MI
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Mother and Child

1999-2000

Source

1999

Reassuring Mother
First Version
Mother and Child
Mother and Child
Second Version
Mother and Child
Mother and Child
Mother and Child
Mother and Child
Mother and Child
Mother and Child
Mother and Child

Related Works in the Catalogue

Mother and Child I
The Upward Journey
Untitled, no. 31 of 34, from the illustrated book, Ode à l'Oubli
Mother and Child II
Mother and Child
Untitled, no. 2 of 34, from the illustrated book, Ode à l'Oubli
Mother and Child
Mother and Child

Related Works in Other Mediums

Memling Dawn
Untitled (Mother and Child)
Mother and Child
Mother and Child
Mother and Child