Untitled, plate 8 of 9, from the illustrated book, Ode à Ma Mère

Cat. No. 11a/I

Untitled, plate 8 of 9, from the illustrated book, Ode à Ma Mère

State/Variant:
State I of II
Date:
1995
Themes
Spiders, Spirals
Techniques
Drypoint, Other Techniques
Support:
Slightly textured, laid Dieu Donné paper
Dimensions:
plate: 9 1/2 x 7 7/16" (24.1 x 18.9 cm); sheet: 13 x 8 7/8" (33 x 22.5 cm)
Signature:
"LB" lower right margin, black ink.
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Louise Bourgeois
Edition:
1 known impression of state I
Edition Information:
Proof before the editioning of state II.
Impression:
Not numbered
Background:
This project was conceived for Les Éditions du Solstice, a Parisian illustrated book society, under the direction of Jean-Claude Meyer. Bourgeois also contributed a frontispiece, “Spiraling Eyes,” to another of their publications: "Les Éditions du Solstice: Annuaire de la Décennie, 1989-1999," a volume documenting the activities of the society. Les Éditions du Solstice was founded under French law in 1901 to promote book collecting, and it publishes a limited edition, illustrated literary work every year or so. The maximum edition is 120 and copies are distributed to members. Other examples of their literary works include "La Nouvelle chute de l’Amérique" by Allen Ginsberg, with illustrations by Roy Lichtenstein, and "Sans Titre" by Hans Magnus Enzensberger, with illustrations by Markus Lüpertz.

Harlan & Weaver gave this blue paper, handmade by Dieu Donné, to Bourgeois in the mid-1990s as a gift. The color matches that of Bourgeois's favorite stationery at that time. Some sheets, including this one, feature a custom watermark designed after a wax stamp of Bourgeois's initials.
Curatorial Remarks:
The paper used for this impression features a custom watermark, "LB" enclosed in a rectangle, made for Bourgeois by Dieu Donné.

Bourgeois chose the published state of this composition for a collaborative spine project with Parkett Publishers. It was reproduced in three vertical sections aross the spines of issues nos. 55-57, published in June, September, and December of 1999.
Descriptive Title:
English translation: "Ode to My Mother"
Description:
Drypoint and roulette, with pencil additions
Inscription:
Recto: "w/" lower left margin, black ink, artist's hand.
State Changes and Additions:
Additions in pencil: lines between lower right spiral rings in head, anticipating state II.
Author Information:
Jean-Claude Meyer, of Les Éditions du Solstice, suggested that the project be a collaboration between Bourgeois and a writer. Bourgeois preferred to provide her own text written specifically for this project.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
632.1996
This Work in Other Collections:
Cleveland Museum of Art, OH
Kunstmuseum Bern, Switzerland
Maier Museum of Art, Randolph College, VA
Tate Modern, London
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Untitled, plate 8 of 9, from the illustrated book, Ode à Ma Mère

1995

States
Untitled, plate 8 of 9, from the illustrated book, Ode à Ma Mère
Untitled plate 8 of 9, from the illustrated book, Ode à Ma Mère
Untitled, plate 8 of 9, from the illustrated book, Ode à Ma Mère
Untitled, plate 8 of 9, from the portfolio, Ode à Ma Mère

Portfolio

1995

Ode à Ma Mère

Illustrated Book

1995

Ode à Ma Mère

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