The Song of the Blacks and the Blues

Cat. No. 649/II

The Song of the Blacks and the Blues

State/Variant:
State II of II
Date:
1996
Themes
Abstraction, Spirals
Techniques
Lithography, Relief
Support:
Wove BFK Rives paper
Dimensions:
composition and sheet: 21 3/4 x 96" (55.3 x 243.8 cm)
Signature:
"Louise Bourgeois" lower right composition, blue oil crayon.
Publisher
Parasol Press, Ltd. , SOLO Impression
Printer
SOLO Impression
Edition:
40; plus 17 A.P., 4 P.P., 1 B.A.T.
Edition Information:
There are 5 known variant impressions of state II, outside the edition.

The printer’s documentation sheet lists five trial proofs, as follows:
1. Black Background, white and black shapes
2. Black Background with color notations on shapes
3. Black background with red and blue shapes sewn on
4-5. Blue background with red and blue shapes

Proofs number 1 and 3 possibly correspond with state I and II, variant, respectively, in the Evolving Composition Diagram below. Proofs 2, 4, and 5 were not located and could not be examined.
Impression:
"A.P 1" lower right comp, blue oil crayon, unknown hand.
Curatorial Remarks:
This composition was initially printed in black, white, and gray, on white paper. It was then printed two additional times: in white ink on blue paper, and in white ink on red paper. Woodcut was used to add texture to the solid background areas. Wood grain is visible using the zoom feature. Hand additions in various colors were applied to further delineate shadows and highlights.
Description:
Lithograph and woodcut, with white and blue gouache, and white oilstick additions
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from state I, in lithography: additional spiral form delineated in far right composition.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist, SOLO Impression, and Parasol Press
MoMA Accession Number:
530.1996
This Work in Other Collections:
New Museum, New York
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

The Song of the Blacks and the Blues

1996

Source

1989

Maggots
States
The Song of the Blacks and the Blues
The Song of the Blacks and the Blues
The Song of the Blacks and the Blues

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