Cat. No. 510.2/IV
The Smile
- State/Variant:
- Version 2 of 2, state IV of IV
- Date:
- 2001
- Themes
- Faces & Portaits, Objects
- Techniques
- Drypoint
- Support:
- Smooth, wove Hahnemühle paper
- Dimensions:
- plate: 4 15/16 x 6 15/16" (12.5 x 17.6 cm); sheet: 6 x 8 11/16" (15.3 x 22 cm)
- Signature:
- "Louise Bourgeois 2001" lower right margin, pencil.
- Publisher
- Ammann Verlag
- Printer
- Harlan & Weaver
- Edition:
- 50; plus 10 A.P., 5 P.P., 3 H.C.
- Edition Information:
- "The Smile" was editioned as the unbound frontispiece for the 2001 book "Louise Bourgeois: Destruction of the Father - Reconstruction of the Father, Schriften und Interviews, 1923-2000," seen below in Related Works in Other Mediums. Edited by Marie-Laure Bernadac and Hans-Ulrich Obrist, and published by Ammann Verlag, Zurich, the German reissue is an updated version of the 1998 book published by Violette, London. The 2001 book is a hardcover and comes in a slipcase.
A.P.s 1/10-4/10 and P.P. 1/5 are cut to size for the book, with sheets measuring at 6 x 8 11/16" (15.3 x 22 cm). The remaining A.P.s and P.P.s are on larger sheets, measuring at 9 3/4 x 11 1/4" (24.8 x 28.6 cm). See examples of each in the Evolving Composition Diagram below. - Impression:
- "ap 2/10" lower left margin, pencil, unknown hand.
- Curatorial Remarks:
- To create the editioned version of this composition, Bourgeois began with "The Obese Woman," which depicts a woman leaning on a column. She developed the image through a series of state changes before abandoning the idea of depicting a full figure. In the second version, "The Smile," only the top part of the composition was transferred to a new plate. Carbon transfers of the preexisting imagery were used to aid in the process of developing the reconfigured composition.
- Descriptive Title:
- Woman Leaning on a Column
- Description:
- Drypoint, with selective wiping
- State Changes and Additions:
- Changes from version 1, in drypoint: top part of composition transferred to new plate and increased in scale.
Changes from version 2, state III, by burnishing: light line on shoulder removed.
Changes from version 2, state III, in drypoint: some beads on necklace filled in. - MoMA Credit Line:
- Gift of the artist
- MoMA Accession Number:
- 40.2002
- This Work in Other Collections:
- Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich, Switzerland
Version 2 of 2, state IV of IV
2001
The Obese Woman and The Smile
2001-2002
Source
2001
The Obese Woman
2001
The Obese Woman
2001
Medium: Ink and pencil on paper
Dimensions: sheet: 11 5/8 x 9" (29.5 x 22.9 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Version 1 of 2, state I of VII
2001
<i>The Obese Woman</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state II of VII
2001
<i>The Obese Woman</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state III of VII
2001
<i>The Obese Woman</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state IV of VII, variant
2001
<i>The Obese Woman</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state V of VII, variant
2001
<i>The Obese Woman</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state V of VII, variant
2001
<i>The Obese Woman</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state VI of VII
2001
<i>The Obese Woman</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state VII of VII
2001
<i>The Obese Woman</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state VII of VII, variant
2001
<i>The Obese Woman</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state VII of VII, variant
2002
<i>The Obese Woman</i>
2002
Version 2 of 2, state I of IV, variant
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, state I of IV, variant
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, state II of IV
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, state III of IV, variant
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, state III of IV, variant
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, state III of IV, variant
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, state III of IV, variant
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, state III of IV, variant
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, state III of IV, variant
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, state IV of IV
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, state IV of IV
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Related Works in the Catalogue
Quartet of the 4 Obese Singing Ladies
Only state
2001
<i>Quartet of the 4 Obese Singing Ladies</i>
2001
Embracing the Tree
State II of II
2000
<i>Embracing the Tree</i>
2000
Untitled, plate 6 of 6, from the portfolio, Together
State II of II
2005
Untitled, plate 6 of 6, from the portfolio,<i> Together</i>
2005
The Smile
Only state
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Untitled, no. 2 of 5, from the series, The Bad Girl
Only state
2008
Untitled, no. 2 of 5, from the series,<i> The Bad Girl</i>
2008
Related Works in Other Mediums
Louise Bourgeois: Destruction of the Father - Reconstruction of the Father, Schriften and Interviews, 1923-2000
2001
Louise Bourgeois: Destruction of the Father - Reconstruction of the Father, Schriften and Interviews, 1923-2000
2001
Medium: Book
Dimensions: overall: 9 1/2 x 7 x 1 1/2" (24.1 x 17.8 x 3.8 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Obésité / Maternity
2000
Obésité / Maternity
2000
Medium: Ink and pencil on paper
Dimensions: sheet: 12 x 9" (30.5 x 22.9 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Obese Woman
2002
Obese Woman
2002
Medium: Ink, pencil, and white correction fluid on paper
Dimensions: sheet: 9 1/2 x 8" (24.1 x 20.3 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Obese Bulimic Anorexic
2001
Obese Bulimic Anorexic
2001
Medium: Fabric, stainless steel, glass, wood, and lead
Dimensions: overall: 24 x 16 x 14 1/2" (61 x 40.6 x 36.8 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY