Le Père et les 3 Fils

Cat. No. 518.2

Le Père et les 3 Fils

State/Variant:
Version 2 of 2, only state
Date:
1999
Themes
Motherhood & Family, Objects
Techniques
Lithography, Other Techniques
Support:
Smooth, wove BFK Rives paper
Dimensions:
composition: 18 7/8 x 9 3/16" (48 x 23.3 cm); sheet: 24 x 13 1/16" (61 x 33.1cm)
Signature:
"LB" right lower margin, pencil.
Publisher
Louise Bourgeois
Printer
SOLO Impression
Edition:
50; plus 10 A.P., 4 P.P., 3 T.P., 1 B.A.T.
Edition Information:
There is 1 known impression of version 2, only state, outside the edition. It is illustrated in the Evolving Composition Diagram below.

The amount of blue pastel additions varies across the edition. For comparison, see variations in the other impressions of version 2, only state, in the Evolving Composition Diagram below.
Impression:
"AP 2" left lower sheet, pencil, unknown hand.
Background:
The Anthology Film Archives is an international center for the preservation, study, and exhibition of film and video, with particular focus on independent, experimental, and avant-garde cinema. It hosts a reference library containing the world's largest collection of books, periodicals, stills, and other paper materials related to avant-garde cinema, as well as a remarkably innovative and eclectic film exhibition program. During her lifetime, Bourgeois served on the Board of Advisors with Nam June Paik, RoseLee Goldberg, and others involved in the world of cinema.

Bourgeois was married to American art historian, Robert Goldwater. The couple had three sons: Michel, Jean-Louis, and Alain.
Curatorial Remarks:
Bourgeois depicted version 1 of this composition in a single color, requiring only one lithographic matrix. In version 2, the artist printed the composition in 2 different shades of blue by introducing an additional lithographic matrix. In both versions 1 and 2, Bourgeois used an embossing matrix to emboss the outline of the large chair and the semicircle forms. The embossing was achieved through letterpress.
Descriptive Title:
English translation: "The Father and the 3 Sons"
Description:
Lithograph and embossing, with blue pastel additions
State Changes and Additions:
Matrices:
The progression of version 2, as seen in the Evolving Composition Diagram below, involved 3 matrices in 2 different techniques.

Embossing matrix: outline of large chair and semicircle forms.

Lithography matrix 1: outline of 3 small chairs and some shading in large chair.

Lithography matrix 2: outline of large chair and shading in small chairs.

State Changes:
Embossing matrix printed, lithography matrix 1 printed in blue, lithography matrix 2 printed in light blue.
Changes from version 1, in lithography: composition re-drawn on 2 matrices, in 2 different colors; fewer shading lines on large chair.
Benefit Work:
For Anthology Film Archives, New York
Other Remarks:
According to the artist's assistant, Jerry Gorovoy, the imagery of chairs may have been influenced by Bourgeois's father and his chair collection. The embossed semicircle forms seen in "Le Père et les 3 Fils" may be in reference to the areas of raised, tufted fabric on the tapestry upholstered chairs in her father's collection. The chair motif appears in Bourgeois's prints, drawings, and sculptures. The artist also included chairs, among other found objects, in various large-scale installations (see Related Works in the Catalogue below).
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
133.2000
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Le Père et les 3 Fils

1998-1999

Source

1998

Le Père et les 3 Fils
First Version
Le Père et les 3 Fils
Le Père
Le Père et les 3 Fils
Le Père et les 3 Fils
Le Père et les 3 Fils
Second Version
Le Père et les 3 Fils
Le Père et les 3 Fils
Le Père et les 3 Fils

Related Works in the Catalogue

Le Père en Balade avec les Trois Fils
Barges
Paternity, plate 12 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
Three Sons, plate 14 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Le Père et les 3 Fils
The Son Is Father to the Man

Related Works in Other Mediums

Le Père
Les 3 Fils de Robert
Father and Son
Le Pères et ses 3 Fils
Untitled
Le Père, la Mère, et les 3 Enfants
Le Père et les 3 Fils
Untitled
Le Père et les 3 Fils
La Danse des 3 Fils avec leur Père Robert
Untitled
Passage Dangereux (detail)
Passage Dangereux (detail)
Cell (Twelve Oval Mirrors)
Untitled