Lacs de Montagne

Cat. No. 553/XIII

Lacs de Montagne

State/Variant:
State XIII of XIII
Date:
1997
Alternate Title:
Mountain Ponds 1993; Convulsions; Lacs de Montagne (blue version)
Themes
Architecture, Nature
Techniques
Aquatint, Drypoint, Engraving, Etching
Support:
Smooth, wove Somerset paper
Dimensions:
plate: 18 1/16 x 23 7/8" (45.9 x 60.6 cm); sheet: 23 3/4 x 29" (60.3 x 73.7 cm)
Signature:
"Louise Bourgeois 1997" lower right margin, pencil.
Publisher
Musée du Louvre
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
9 numbered, and an unlimited edition of unsigned, unnumbered prints; plus 10 A.P., 1 B.A.T., 1 T.P.
Edition Information:
There is 1 known variant impression, outside the edition, in MoMA's Collection (Accession Number: 699.2008). It is not illustrated, due to its similarity to the impression seen here. The impression was rejected by the printer because it is very slightly out of register.

This composition was also issued as a published edition at states II and XII.
Impression:
"a.p. 2/10" lower left margin, pencil, unknown hand.
Background:
State XIII was published as a benefit for Chalcographie of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Following the printing of the numbered edition at Harlan & Weaver, the matrices for this composition were released to the Cabinet des estampes of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. With the artist's permission, they are being published in an unsigned, unlimited edition by the Chalcographie du Louvre.

State XII, made from three plates, was originally intended as a benefit for the Chalcographie of the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Bourgeois was later made aware that the Chalcographie has a limit of two plates for its prints. Under the circumstances, state XII was published independent of the Chalcographie, and this state was published as the Chalcographie benefit print.

"The Chalcographie was established in the 18th century to collect matrices by artists, but it also publishes prints, including commissioning new editions from contemporary artists and reprinting from their collection of historic plates. The Chalcographie has an extensive sales program with a shop in the museum dedicated to selling these modestly priced restrikes." (Reference: Deborah Wye and Wendy Weitman, "Eye on Europe: Prints, Books & Multiples: 1960 to Now" (New York: Museum of Modern Art, 2006), p. 25.)
Descriptive Title:
English translation: “Mountain Lakes”
Description:
Engraving, etching, aquatint, and drypoint
Inscription:
"Mountain Lakes" lower middle margin, pencil, artist's hand.
State Changes and Additions:
Matrices:
The progression of this composition, as seen in the Evolving Composition Diagram below, involved 3 plates.
Plate 1: overall linear composition; printed in black.
Plate 2: fill in lakes, and later, larger cloud form; usually printed in blue, sometimes in red, pink, and gray.
Plate 3: fill in mountains and smaller cloud form; printed in blue and/or red.

Print State Changes:
Plate 1 printed in black, over plate 3 printed in red and blue.
Changes from state XII, in etching: contours of lakes delineated.
Benefit Work:
For Musée du Louvre, Paris
Other Remarks:
According to Bourgeois's assistant, Jerry Gorovoy, this composition depicts mountains in Switzerland and likely references the artist's memories of visits there in her youth, especially for skiing.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
12.2002
This Work in Other Collections:
Musée du Louvre, Paris
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Mountain Ponds 1993 ; Lacs de Montagne

1993-1997

Studies
Untitled (Study for Mountain Ponds, 1993)
Untitled (Study for Mountain Ponds 1993)
States
Mountain Ponds 1993
Mountain Ponds 1993
Mountain Ponds 1993
Mountain Ponds 1993
Mountain Ponds 1993
Mountain Ponds 1993
Mountain Ponds 1993
Mountain Ponds 1993 (When in Doubt Suspend Judgement)
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Mountain Ponds 1993
Rain on the Mountain Lakes
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne
Lacs de Montagne

Related Works in the Catalogue

Untitled
Night and Day
Horizontal Mountain Landscape
Blue Is the Color of Your Eyes
M Is for Mother, plate 4 of 7, from the portfolio, La Réparation

Related Works in Other Mediums

Untitled
Soft Landscape II
The Sweet Smell of Indigo
Untitled
Untitled, no. 57 of 220, from the series, The Insomnia Drawings
Untitled, no. 188 of 200, from the series, Insomnia Drawings
Les 2 Lacs
Untitled