Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses

Cat. No. 1054.3/II, variant 4

Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses

State/Variant:
Version 3 of 3, state II of II, variant
Date:
c. 1990
Themes
Architecture
Techniques
Engraving
Support:
Smooth, wove Rives BFK paper, with chine collé
Dimensions:
plate: 6 7/16 x 5 15/16" (16.4 x 15.1 cm); sheet: 14 15/16 x 11 1/4" (38 x 28.5 cm)
Signature:
Not signed
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Gravure
Edition:
9 known impressions of version 3, state II
Edition Information:
Not issued as a published edition at any state.
Impression:
Not numbered
Background:
Bourgeois admired the printing facilities of the Gravure workshop and also felt a personal rapport with the owner and master printer, Christian Guérin. Guérin helped the artist develop plates for several important projects in the early 1990s, including this composition, which is related to her 1947 illustrated book, “He Disappeared into Complete Silence” (see Related Works in the Catalogue). Bourgeois had long hoped to reissue this book but the plates no longer existed. She thought Guérin might assist her. In order to determine if his engraving would be suitable for the project, she asked him to attempt similar compositions. After these trials, he assisted in engraving versions of plates 2 and 6 of “He Disappeared into Complete Silence.”
Former Cat. No.:
W & S B12.2
Description:
Engraving, with chine collé
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from version 3, state I, in engraving: additional line added to reinforce center line.
Artist’s Remarks:
"This is much freer than 'He Disappeared into Complete Silence' ... there is a change of mood. The lack of a ground line gives them freedom... they are very confident... they don't need much control. There is a relationship between them... they stand together and they stand alone... safe and secure... sometimes passive... sometimes active. Sometimes I'm the mother... sometimes I'm being taken care of." The figure on the left has "wide-open eyes... he is as alert as can be. He stands in front of her, making himself important." (Quote cited in Wye, Deborah and Carol Smith. "The Prints of Louise Bourgeois." New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 1994, p. 240.)
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
562.1993
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Atlantic Avenue: Transparent House and Atlantic Avenue No. 2: Transparent Houses

1990

Source

1947

Untitled
First Version
Atlantic Avenue: Transparent House
Second Version
Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses
Third Version
Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses
Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses
Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses
Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses
Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses
Atlantic Avenue No 2: Transparent Houses

Related Works in the Catalogue

Plate 2 of 9, from the illustrated book, He Disappeared into Complete Silence, first edition (Example 1)
Plate 6 of 9, from the illustrated book, He Disappeared into Complete Silence, first edition (Example 1)
Side by Side
Famille

Related Works in Other Mediums

Quarantania, I
Untitled
Untitled
Off Balance
Untitled
Listening One