Cat. No. 656.2

Montée Difficile

State/Variant:: Version 2 of 2, only state
Date:: c. 1990

Themes: Abstraction, Figures
Techniques: Photogravure
Support:: Smooth, wove Arches paper
Dimensions:: plate: 6 7/8 x 4 13/16" (17.5 x 12.3 cm); sheet: 14 15/16 x 11" (38 x 28 cm)
Signature:: Not signed
Publisher: unpublished
Printer: Iris Editions
Edition:: 2 known impressions of version 2, only state
Edition Information:: Not issued as a published edition at any state.
Impression:: Not numbered
Curatorial Remarks:: In Wye and Smith, "The Prints of Louise Bourgeois," 1994, p. 98, the alternate title "Structures," was included. It is found on a verso inscription on one of the impressions. This inscription has been found on several impressions of various 1940s compositions, and is no longer considered an alternate title.

In Wye and Smith, "The Prints of Louise Bougreois," 1994, version 2 was possibly attributed to the printer Christian Guérin of Gravure Inc. The printer was later confirmed as Deli Sacilotto of Iris Editions.

Iris Editions was the imprint of Deli Sacilotto, a master printer who specialized in the photogravure technique. Bourgeois met Sacilotto through mutual friends and established a warm relationship with him. They worked together on projects in the early 1980s, and then again later, when Sacilotto joined Graphicstudio in Tampa, Florida and encouraged the artist to create the multiple, “Spider Home” (cat. no. 15).

The initial composition (version 1), in engraving and drypoint, was likely created in 1946-47 at Atelier 17, the print workshop of Stanley William Hayter. The workshop had transferred operations from Paris to New York during the war years. However, it is not known precisely which prints Bourgeois made there since she also worked at home on a small press. In addition, she worked on certain plates both at home and at the workshop, or pulled impressions at both places.
Former Cat. No.:: W & S 39
Descriptive Title:: English translation: "Slow Climb"
Description:: Photogravure
State Changes and Additions:: Changes from version 1: composition transferred to a new matrix, in photogravure.
Artist’s Remarks:: "The poor devils are climbing up step by step; they are trying their best. This will become the Myth of Sisyphus." Bourgeois pointed out that it is her younger brother, Pierre, in front and that one of his legs is thinner than the other. "He is helpless," she explained. This image of awkward legs prompted her to go even further: "He had his two feet in the same shoe." She related the figure of Pierre, in his helplessness, to the homeless man, John, who in 1993 spent all of his time on her stoop.

In the middle, Bourgeois saw herself as the much stronger figure, with more resources. She was in full control of the situation because of her hair, which can relate to both sides and both people; she tried to help the others. As to the subject of helping others, she mentioned "La Chute" (The Fall) by Albert Camus wherein someone "crashes down into sin... not to have helped someone he could have helped." (Quote cited in Wye, Deborah and Carol Smith. "The Prints of Louise Bourgeois." New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1994, p. 98.)
MoMA Credit Line:: Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:: 378.1993