Feet (Socks)

Cat. No. 362/II

Feet (Socks)

State/Variant:
State II of III
Date:
1999
Themes
Body Parts, Objects
Techniques
Drypoint
Support:
Smooth, wove paper
Dimensions:
plate: 11 7/8 x 9 15/16" (30.2 x 25.3 cm); sheet: 15 3/8 x 10 15/16" (39 x 27.8 cm)
Signature:
"LB" lower right margin and "LB" upper left margin, both black ink.
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
1 known impression of state II
Edition Information:
Proof before the editioning of state III on paper and on fabric.

The "AP" inscriptions, in the artist's hand, do not indicate conventional A.P. impressions, which would be of the final state.
Impression:
"AP" lower left margin and "AP" (upside-down) upper right margin, both black ink, artist's hand.
Curatorial Remarks:
Publisher Harlan & Weaver groups the editioned state of this composition on paper with ten other drypoints of 1999, under the title, “11 Drypoints.” Each of the 11 compositions can be displayed individually. The full set is as follows:
“The Accident”
“The Angry Cat”
“Don’t Put Your Foot in Your Mouth”
“Fear”
“Feet (Socks)”
“Fences Are Obsolete”
“Madeleine”
“Mosquito”
“Mother and Child”
“Please Hang in There”
“The Smell of the Feet”
Description:
Drypoint, with black ink additions
Inscription:
Verso: "SAPERLIPOPETTE! Qui pete?" lower center sheet, black ink, artist's hand.
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from state I by burnishing: contour lines from big toes to arches, and around left heel, removed.
Changes from state I in drypoint: arches reconfigured; heels slightly reconfigured, and upper portions of both feet slightly enlarged; toenails delineated; vertical hanging line at top of each foot delineated.
Additions in black ink: toe and toenail outlines reinforced, anticipating state III.
Other Remarks:
According to the Louise Bourgeois Studio, the initials and inscriptions repeated twice indicate that the composition can be hung with the feet in either orientation.

Publisher Harlan & Weaver adds that the artist was inspired here by the cardboard stiffeners from a pair of socks. When she received dry-cleaning or new clothes, she would often draw on the inserts.
Bibliography:
Malbert, Roger, and Juliet Mitchell. "Louise Bourgeois: Autobiographical Prints." London: Hayward, 2016. (Catalogue accompanying the touring exhibition "Louise Bourgeois Prints: Autobiographical Series and 11 Drypoints".)
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
903.2008
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Feet (Socks)

1999-2000

Source

1999

Hanging Feet
States
Feet (Socks)
Feet (Socks)
Feet (Socks)
Feet (Socks)
Feet (Socks)
Feet (Socks)
Feet (Socks)
Feet (Socks)
Feet (Socks)

Related Works in the Catalogue

Untitled, no. 9 of 12, from the portfolio, Anatomy
Untitled, plate 3 of 5, from the illustrated book, and plate 3 of 7, from the portfolio, Metamorfosis
The Smell of the Feet

Related Works in Other Mediums

Legs
J'y suis, J'y reste
Untitled