Cat. No. 441/II

Paternity, plate 12 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series

State/Variant:: State II of V
Date:: 1993

Themes: Figures, Motherhood & Family, Objects
Techniques: Drypoint
Support:: Smooth, wove paper
Dimensions:: plate: 4 3/4 x 8 7/8" (12.1 x 22.6 cm); sheet: 11 7/16 x 14 3/8" (29 x 36.5 cm)
Signature:: Not signed
Publisher: unpublished
Printer: Harlan & Weaver
Edition:: 1 known impression of state II
Edition Information:: Proof before the editioning of state V.

The "ap" inscription, in the artist's hand, does not indicate a conventional A.P. impression, which would be of the final state.
Impression:: "1/ ap" lower left margin, pencil, artist's hand.
Background:: Bourgeois was often inspired by the subjects of early drawings when creating works at much later dates. This 1994 portfolio is an example of a project based primarily on drawings from the 1940s and referring to her life in New York at that time. The exceptions are as follows: plate 1, based on a drawing from 1986 that references childbirth; plates 4 and 9, based on drawings from the 1940s but depicting memories of her childhood years in France; plate 11, most probably based on a drawing from the 1940s of a European hotel desk.

Bourgeois was married to American art historian, Robert Goldwater. The couple had three children: Michel, Jean-Louis, and Alain.
Curatorial Remarks:: Jerry Gorovoy is the artist's assistant.

The source drawing for this work was not available for reproduction. It can, however, be viewed on microfilm at the Archives of American Art, reel 90, frame 105.

Of the 14 plates in "Autobiographical Series," Bourgeois titled this plate and plate 6. The untitled plates have been assigned descriptive titles for cataloguing purposes.
Description:: Drypoint
Inscription:: "PATERNITY" lower right margin, pencil, artist's hand.
State Changes and Additions:: Changes from state I, by burnishing: lines to left and right of chair removed; lines in potted plant removed.
Artist’s Remarks:: Inscribed on state I: "Life itself / growth of the plant / growth of the child / l'image d'epinal." left upper margin, pencil, artist's hand; "supress the / picture" right middle margin, pencil, artist's hand; "paternity" lower right margin, pencil, artist's hand; "[illeg.] / madonna and child / turned into Robt (Paternity) / Robt is put on a pedestal / I take care of the 2nd best / who is older Michel is five / [illeg.]" lower middle margin, pencil, artist's hand; "Robert was taking care of Jean-Louis as a Baby / 333 E. 41st Tudor City" lower middle margin, pencil, Jerry Gorovoy's hand.
MoMA Credit Line:: Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:: 608.1996
This Work in Other Collections:: Kunstmuseum Bern, Switzerland
Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Québec
Museu da Gravura Cidade de Curitiba, Brazil
Tate Modern, London