The Papillon, the Ray of Hope, no. 6 of 9, component A, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?

Cat. No. 664/II

The Papillon, the Ray of Hope, no. 6 of 9, component A, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?

State/Variant:
Component A: state II of II; component B: only state
Date:
1999
Series:
What Is the Shape of This Problem?
Themes
Abstraction, Music, Words
Techniques
Lithography, Relief
Support:
Smooth, wove Arches paper
Dimensions:
sheet (component A): 12 × 17" (30.5 × 43.2 cm); sheet (component B): 12 × 17" (30.5 × 43.2 cm)
Signature:
"LB" right lower sheet (each), pencil.
Publisher
Galerie Lelong , Galerie Lelong
Printer
SOLO Impression
Edition:
25; plus 14 A.P. (3 are isolated pairs of text-image diptychs), 4 P.P., 3 T.P., 2 H.C., 1 B.A.T.
Edition Information:
In an unusual numbering system for the A.P.s, numbers 1-11 were given to complete sets, but numbers 12, 13, and 14 were given to isolated pairs of text-image diptychs, according to printer Judith Solodkin of SOLO Impression. Solodkin does not recall which specific diptychs were numbered 12, 13, and 14.
Impression:
"AP 2" left lower sheet (each), pencil, unknown hand.
Background:
The text in this series was taken from Bourgeois's diary entries, spanning some forty years. The images are based on drawings created in the 1990s. Printer Judith Solodkin of SOLO Impression made photo-enlargements of the drawings and transferred them to letterpress plates.
Curatorial Remarks:
This series was reproduced on a set of note cards as a merchandise item. A tote bag merchandise item was made from no. 9.
Description:
Letterpress and lithograph
State Changes and Additions:
Matrices:
Plate 1: overall composition; letterpress, printed in dark red.
Plate 2: music staves; lithography, printed in gray.
Plate 3: thicker lines reinforcing vertical columns; lithography, printed in light red.

State Changes:
Plate 3, printed over plate 2, printed over plate 1.
Changes from state I, by grinding: signature as well as several sketchier lines removed; composition refined overall.
Installation Remarks:
Each diptych in this series constitutes a single composition and must be exhibited in a vertical configuration as illustrated, or alternatively, with the text on top of the image. The diptychs in the series may be exhibited together or separately, and there is no required sequence.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
135.2000.7a-b
This Work in Other Collections:
Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich, Switzerland
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Tate Modern, London
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

The Papillon, the Ray of Hope , no. 6 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?

1999

Source

1997

Change the Direction of the Music Staff
Component A
The Papillon, the Ray of Hope, no. 6 of 9, component A, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
The Papillon, the Ray of Hope, no. 6 of 9, component A, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
Component B
The Papillon, the Ray of Hope, no. 6 of 9, component B, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
Diptych
The Papillon, the Ray of Hope, no. 6 of 9, component A, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?

Series

1999

What Is the Shape of This Problem?

Related Works in the Catalogue

Crochet III, from the series, Crochet I-V
Untitled
Untitled, no. 7 of 19, from the portfolio, Fugue
Baby and Butterfly

Related Works in Other Mediums

Untitled, no. 93 of 220, from the series, The Insomnia Drawings
The Chorus Line
Papillon, The Ray of Hope
Publication Excerpts

Louise Bourgeois,

What Is the Shape of This Problem?,

New York: Galerie Lelong, 1999

No. 6 of 9
The papillon, the ray of hope.