Mother and Child

Cat. No. 230.2/I

Mother and Child

State/Variant:
Version 2 of 2, state I of III
Date:
1999
Themes
Architecture, Figures, Motherhood & Family
Techniques
Drypoint
Support:
Smooth, wove paper
Dimensions:
plate: 11 7/8 x 9 15/16" (30.2 x 25.3 cm); sheet: 17 1/16 x 14 1/16" (43 x 35.8 cm)
Signature:
Not signed
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
1 known impression of version 2, state I
Edition Information:
Proof before the editioning of version 2, state III.
Impression:
Not numbered
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 red ink and white gouache additions
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from version 1, state II: nearly identical composition drawn on a new plate containing different distress markings.
Additions in red ink: female figure's hair and breasts further delineated, anticipating version 2, state II; child's genitals delineated, anticipating version 2, state III.
Other Remarks:
Printer Harlan & Weaver does not recall the reason for making the very similar version 2 of this composition.

There is an artist's chop mark at the bottom right corner of this sheet: "LB" encased within a square. Harlan & Weaver has said that this chop mark was made during the time of the "He Disappeared into Complete Silence" second edition project. It was thought that a chop mark could distinguish the second edition from the first edition of 1947. That idea was abandoned, but the chop mark was used from time to time on various proofs.
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:
921.2008
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