Cat. No. 440/II

Untitled, plate 11 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series

State/Variant:: State II of II
Date:: 1994
Portfolio:: Autobiographical Series

Themes: Figures, Objects
Techniques: Drypoint
Support:: Smooth, wove Somerset paper
Dimensions:: plate: 8 11/16 x 6 11/16" (22.1 x 17 cm); sheet: 19 11/16 x 15 1/16" (50 x 38.2 cm)
Signature:: "LB" lower right margin, pencil.
Publisher: Peter Blum Edition
Printer: Harlan & Weaver
Edition:: 35; plus 10 H.C.
Edition Information:: There is one known impression of state II, outside the edition, in MoMA's Collection (Accession Number: 640.2008). It is not illustrated, due to its similiarity to the impression seen here.
Impression:: "III/X" lower left margin, pencil, unknown hand.
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.
Description:: Drypoint
State Changes and Additions:: Changes from state I, in drypoint: line added to right side of telephone.
Artist’s Remarks:: Inscribed by the artist on the wrapper for this plate: "An idealized portrait of Robert / Robert he protects / controls all the keys / and in charge of / protecting the family / the men are / idealized / by me / + the women / are always difficult."
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:: 74.1997.11
This Work in Other Collections:: Kunstmuseum Bern, Switzerland
Museu da Gravura Cidade de Curitiba, Brazil
Tate Modern, London

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State II of II

1994

Untitled, plate 11 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series

1993-1994

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1994