Untitled (Copper Plate for Vase of Tears)

Cat. No. 534 (matrix)

Untitled (Copper Plate for Vase of Tears)

Date:
c. 1945
Themes
Faces & Portaits, Figures, Objects
Techniques
Drypoint, Engraving, Etching
Dimensions:
plate: 5 1/2 x 3 7/16" (13.9 x 8.8 cm)
Signature:
Not signed
Background:
Portfolio:
Since Galerie Lelong was exhibiting Bourgeois's sculpture, Jean Frémon, a gallery director, proposed undertaking a print project with her. It was decided to reprint plates executed earlier and still in Bourgeois's possession, because this work was unknown to the public. In 1990, after the plates had been stored for more than forty years, they were newly printed by Piero Crommelynck, and published for this portfolio. Only "Quarantania" (9), titled "Bosom Lady" in the 1940s, was reworked in 1990 by the artist.

The 1990 reprints differ in appearance from the 1940s impressions, due to corrosion of the plates and accidental scratching over time. Also, professional printing with uniform inking and wiping creates a darker plate tone. The prints were gathered in a portfolio to represent the work from the 1940s, with the title "Quarantania," deriving from the French "quarante," meaning "forty."

In preparing this project, proofs were also pulled from other old plates in the artist's possession. However, the poor condition of those plates made it impossible to achieve acceptable impressions (see "Youth," 1941-1944; "Laurel Easton," 1944; "Dame," 1948; and "The Burner," 1948). Proofs were also pulled from a 1970s and a 1980s plate. These were editioned and published as "Spirales," c. 1974, and "Femme Maison," 1984. Bourgeois chose a cover resembling that of "He Disappeared into Complete Silence," 1947 because she saw "Quarantania" as a continuation of that work.
Description:
Copper plate, with soft ground etching, drypoint, and engraving
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
540.1997
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Vase of Tears , plate 2 of 9, from the portfolio, Quarantania

1946; reprinted and published in 1990

Matrix
Untitled (Copper Plate for Vase of Tears)
States
Vase of Tears
Vase of Tears
Vase of Tears
Vase of Tears
Vase of Tears
Vase of Tears
Vase of Tears, plate 2 of 9, from the portfolio, Quarantania

Portfolio

1990

Quarantania

Related Works in the Catalogue

The Guilty Girl Is Fragile
He Disappeared into Complete Silence, first edition (Example 1)
The Bad Mother

Related Works in Other Mediums

Untitled
Precious Liquids