Water Divide

Cat. No. 842/II

Water Divide

State/Variant:
State II of II
Date:
1995
Alternate Title:
Watershed
Themes
Nature
Techniques
Engraving, Relief
Support:
Smooth, thin, laid paper
Dimensions:
composition: 14 5/8 x 14 3/16" (37.1 x 36.1 cm); sheet: 25 1/16 × 19 5/16" (63.7 × 49.1 cm)
Signature:
"Louise Bourgeois 1995" right lower margin, pencil.
Publisher
Louise Bourgeois
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
5
Edition Information:
There are 3 known impressions of state II, outside the edition.

The third known impression of this state is in MoMA's Collection (Accession Number: 1617.2012). It is not illustrated, due to its similarity to the impression seen here.
Impression:
"4/5" right lower margin, pencil, artist's hand.
Background:
Proximity to rivers was of importance to the Bourgeois family's tapestry restoration business. This connection to rivers remained with the artist long after her childhood and inspired a number of projects, including "Ode à la Bièvre" and "Point d'ironie," both seen in Related Works in the Catalogue below.
Descriptive Title:
Rivers of France
Description:
Engraving, printed in relief
Inscription:
"Water Divide" right lower margin, pencil, artist's hand.
Other Remarks:
According to Felix Harlan, of Harlan & Weaver, New York, Bourgeois's map compositions stem from her desire to sort through memories and associations with different places. The artist used preexisting maps as references for her own abstracted compositions, excluding the information essential to map reading. In this way, the maps served more as personal documents for the artist, rather than as references or guides.

This composition was executed on a scrap metal plate found in Bourgeois's basement studio. The plate was engraved and printed in relief because the lead material was too soft to withstand the heavy pressure of the press.

The artist first had test printings made of two potential plates to see their texture. A smaller plate was printed on both sides and was rejected for use. A test printing of a larger plate was deemed satisfactory, and the artist proceeded with the composition on that plate, seen here.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
49.1998
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Water Divide

1995

States
Water Divide
Water Divide
Water Divide
Water Divide

Related Works in the Catalogue

Department of Creuse (Aubusson)
Normandy Landing
Untitled, no. 25 of 69, from the illustrated book, Album
Point d'Ironie
Ode à la Bièvre
Untitled, no. 36 of 69, from the illustrated book, Album
Untitled, no. 8 of 69, from the illustrated book, Album
Untitled

Related Works in Other Mediums

Topologie
Untitled, no. 133 of 220, from the series, The Insomnia Drawings