Feet (Socks)

Cat. No. 362/III, variant 2

Feet (Socks)

State/Variant:
State III of III, variant
Date:
1999

Themes
Body Parts, Objects
Techniques
Drypoint
Support:
Smooth, wove Somerset paper
Dimensions:
plate: 11 7/8 x 9 15/16" (30.2 x 25.3 cm); sheet (irreg.): 15 3/8 x 11 1/4" (39 x 28.5 cm)
Signature:
"LB" lower right margin, pencil.
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
2 known variant impressions of state III
Edition Information:
Proof outside the editions of state III on paper and on fabric.

The "AP" inscription, in the artist's hand, does not indicate a conventional A.P. impression, which would be of the final state.
Impression:
"AP." lower left margin, pencil, 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 blue ink and pencil additions
Inscription:
Verso: "pastel/ sanguine rehaussee./ clean toenails burin on copper" and "Aug 99" lower right sheet, pencil, artist's hand.
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from state II by burnishing: earlier contour lines partially removed.
Changes from state II in drypoint: toe and toenail contours reinforced; outlines reinforced overall.
Other Remarks:
According to publisher Harlan & Weaver, 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:
905.2008
© 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