Autobiographical Series

Cat. No. 430-443

Autobiographical Series

Date:
1994
Themes
Figures, Motherhood & Family, Objects
Techniques
Aquatint, Drypoint
Support:
Smooth, wove, Somerset paper
Dimensions:
portfolio: 23 1/16 x 15 15/16 x 9/16" (58.5 x 40.5 x 1.5 cm). Plate and sheet sizes vary throughout. See individual.
Signature:
"LB" or "LB." lower right margin, pencil, each plate.
Publisher
Peter Blum Edition
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
35; plus 10 H.C.
Impression:
"III/X" lower left margin, each plate.
Background:
Bourgeois was often inspired by the subjects of early drawings when creating works at much later dates. This 1994 portfolio is an example of a project based primarily on drawings from the 1940s and referring to her life in New York at that time. The exceptions are as follows: plate 1, based on a drawing from 1986 that references childbirth; plates 4 and 9, based on drawings from the 1940s but depicting memories of her childhood years in France; plate 11, most probably based on a drawing from the 1940s of a European hotel desk.
Curatorial Remarks:
Of the 14 plates in "Autobiographical Series," Bourgeois titled plates 6 and 12. The untitled plates have been assigned descriptive titles for cataloguing purposes.

Bourgeois made three additional compositions that she considered for inclusion in the portfolio (see Related Works in the Catalogue). They were ultimately excluded from publication.
Description:
Portfolio with 14 compositions: 10 drypoints, 4 drypoints with aquatint
Housing:
Publisher's portfolio: gray fabric lined with cream paper, with paper flaps and two ribbon ties.
Installation Remarks:
The prints in this portfolio can be shown as a group or individually. There is no required sequence.
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:
74.1997.1-14
This Work in Other Collections:
Tate Modern, London
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

From the portfolio

Untitled, plate 1 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 10 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 11 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Paternity, plate 12 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 13 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 14 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 2 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 3 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 4 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 5 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Empty Nest, plate 6 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 7 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 8 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Untitled, plate 9 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series

Related Works in the Catalogue

Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Self Portrait