To Unravel a Torment You Must Begin Somewhere, no. 8 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?

Cat. No. 666/II

To Unravel a Torment You Must Begin Somewhere, no. 8 of 9, 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, 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.

There is an additional known impression of component A, state II, outside the edition, in MoMA's Collection (Accession Number: 1417.2008). It is not illustrated due to its similarity to the impression seen here.
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, component A:
Plate 1: overall composition; letterpress, printed in light red.
Plate 2: overall composition; lithography, printed in dark red.

State Changes:
Plate 1, printed over plate 2.
Changes from state I, in lithography: composition reinforced overall, and several new circles added to edges of composition.
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:
135.2000.9a-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

To Unravel a Torment You Must Begin Somewhere , no. 8 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of ...

1999

Source

1998

Confusion
Component A
To Unravel a Torment You Must Begin Somewhere, no. 8 of 9, component A, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
To Unravel a Torment You Must Begin Somewhere, no. 8 of 9, component A, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
Component B
To Unravel a Torment You Must Begin Somewhere, no. 8 of 9, component B, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
Diptych
To Unravel a Torment You Must Begin Somewhere, no. 8 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?

Series

1999

What Is the Shape of This Problem?

Related Works in the Catalogue

Untitled, no. 11 of 34, from the illustrated book, Ode à l'Oubli
Untitled, no. 9 of 19, from the portfolio, Fugue
Untitled
Crochet I, from the series, Crochet I-V

Related Works in Other Mediums

Untitled, no. 12 of 44, from the sketchbook, Fugue
Torment
Publication Excerpts

Louise Bourgeois,

What Is the Shape of This Problem?,

New York: Galerie Lelong, 1999

No. 8 of 9
To unravel a torment you must begin somewhere