Who, Where, When, Why, What

Cat. No. 542.1

Who, Where, When, Why, What

State/Variant:
Version 1, only state
Date:
1999
Themes
Architecture, Words
Techniques
Drypoint
Support:
Smooth, wove paper
Dimensions:
plate: 9 15/16 x 9 7/8" (25.3 x 25.1 cm); sheet: 11 x 13 9/16" (28 x 34.5 cm)
Signature:
Not signed
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Louise Bourgeois
Edition:
1 known impression of version 1
Edition Information:
Not issued as a published edition at any state.
Impression:
Not numbered
Background:
In August of 1999, the Dalai Lama spoke at several well-attended events in New York City. Bourgeois's son, Jean-Louis, requested that his mother execute a benefit print to raise money for the Dalai Lama’s cause about a month prior to the speaking engagements. Although Bourgeois created this composition, the benefit project did not come to fruition and this print was never published.
Description:
Drypoint, with pencil additions
Inscription:
"La mai[?] / the house of the w family. + whence." lower center margin, pencil, artist's hand.
Artist’s Remarks:
Inscriptions on drawings in the suite of drawings titled, "The Iodine Scene," 1999: "ODE TO THE FIVE W, WHO WHERE WHEN WHY WHAT" and "LB a child who loved to be mothered. who, when, where, why, what, ground, qui, quoi, pourquoi, ou."
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
884.2008
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Who, Where, When, Why, What

1999-2008

Source

1999

Who Where When Why What
First Version
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Second Version
Who Where When Why What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What

Related Works in the Catalogue

The Rectory
Plate 4 of 9, from the illustrated book, He Disappeared into Complete Silence, first edition (Example 1)
La Folie
Maison

Related Works in Other Mediums

Who, Where, When, Why, What
Spider Trees
Post Partum Depression of the Mother
The Five Magic Words