What Is the Shape of This Problem?

Cat. No. 658-667

What Is the Shape of This Problem?

Date:
1999
Themes
Abstraction, Words
Techniques
Lithography, Relief
Support:
Smooth, wove Arches paper
Dimensions:
sheet (each): 12 x 17" (30.5 x 43.2 cm)
Signature:
"LB" right lower sheet (each), pencil.
Publisher
Galerie Lelong , Galerie Lelong
Printer
SOLO Impression
Edition:
25; plus 14 A.P. (3 are isolated pairs of text-image diptychs), 4 P.P., 3 T.P., 2 H.C., 1 B.A.T.
Edition Information:
In an unusual numbering system for the A.P.s, numbers 1-11 were given to complete sets, but numbers 12, 13, and 14 were given to isolated pairs of text-image diptychs, according to printer Judith Solodkin of SOLO Impression. Solodkin does not recall which specific diptychs were numbered 12, 13, and 14.
Impression:
"AP 2" left lower sheet (each), pencil, unknown hand.
Background:
The text in this series was taken from Bourgeois's diary entries, spanning some forty years. The images are based on drawings created in the 1990s. Printer Judith Solodkin of SOLO Impression made photo-enlargements of the drawings and transferred them to letterpress plates.
Curatorial Remarks:
This series was reproduced on a set of note cards as a merchandise item. A tote bag merchandise item was made from no. 9.
Description:
Series of 9 letterpress diptychs, 5 with lithography
Installation Remarks:
Each diptych in this series constitutes a single composition and must be exhibited in a vertical configuration as illustrated, or alternatively, with the text on top of the image. The diptychs in the series may be exhibited together or separately, and there is no required sequence.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
135.2000.1-10
This Work in Other Collections:
Graphische Sammlung ETH Zürich, Switzerland
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Tate Modern, London
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

From the series

What Is the Shape of This Problem?, title sheet, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
The Telephone Call from the Slammer, no. 1 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
The Small Hours, no. 2 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
Repairs in the Sky, no. 3 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
I Pick on Everyone, Dead or Alive, no. 4 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
Has the Day Invaded the Night, or Has the Night Invaded the Day?, no. 5 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
The Papillon, the Ray of Hope, no. 6 of 9, component A, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
The Hour Is Devoted to Revenge, no. 7 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
To Unravel a Torment You Must Begin Somewhere, no. 8 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?
Art Is a Guaranty of Sanity, no. 9 of 9, from the series, What Is the Shape of This Problem?

Related Works in the Catalogue

Le Père, la Mère, et les 3 Enfants
Fugue

Related Works in Other Mediums

Torment
Art Is a Guaranty of Sanity
I Pick on Everyone Dead or Alive
Papillon, The Ray of Hope
Repairs in the Sky
Repairs in the Sky
The Hour is Devoted to Revenge
Publication Excerpts

Louise Bourgeois,

What Is the Shape of This Problem?,

New York: Galerie Lelong, 1999

Bourgeois's entire text for this series appears on the compositions cited below.

Title Sheet
What is the shape of this problem?

No. 1 of 9
The telephone call from the slammer

No. 2 of 9
The small hours

No. 3 of 9
Repairs in the sky

No. 4 of 9
I pick on everyone, dead or alive

No. 5 of 9
Has the day invaded the night, or has the night invaded the day?

No. 6 of 9
The papillon, the ray of hope.

No. 7 of 9
The hour is devoted to revenge

No. 8 of 9
To unravel a torment you must begin somewhere

No. 9 of 9
Art is a guaranty of sanity