Cat. No. 247/I
Umbilical Cord
- State/Variant:
- State I of IX
- Date:
- 2000
- Themes
- Figures, Motherhood & Family
- Techniques
- Other Techniques
- Support:
- Smooth, wove paper
- Dimensions:
- plate: 10 7/8 x 8 3/8" (27.7 x 21.3 cm); sheet: 15 1/4 x 11 1/4" (38.8 x 28.5 cm)
- Signature:
- Not signed
- Publisher
- unpublished
- Printer
- Sarah V
- Edition:
- 1 known impression of state I
- Edition Information:
- Proof before the editioning of state VIII on fabric.
- Impression:
- Not numbered
- Background:
- "Umbilical Cord" relates to a monumental installation for the inaugural exhibition in Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in 2000. The installation consisted of "Maman," a 30' steel sculpture of a spider, and "I Do, I Undo, I Redo," three steel towers ranging in height from 42' to 57'. Each tower contained a different sculpture of a mother and child inside a bell jar. The sculpture in the tower titled, "I Redo," featured a mother and child attached by an umbilical cord. Bourgeois also made another related print called "Do Not Abandon Me," 2000, which includes a similar mother and child.
- Description:
- Roulette, with red pencil additions
- State Changes and Additions:
- Additions in red pencil: reinforced overall, anticipating state II.
- Other Remarks:
- According to Felix Harlan of Harlan & Weaver print workshop, Bourgeois initially worked with printer Sarah V on this project. In state I, Sarah V transferred the composition onto the plate using a roulette. Bourgeois then asked Harlan & Weaver to hire Sarah V as a workshop printer in order to carry on with this project. The subsequent states were done under the auspices of Harlan & Weaver and, thus, they are credited as printer.
- MoMA Credit Line:
- Gift of the artist
- MoMA Accession Number:
- 1006.2008
State I of IX
2000
Umbilical Cord
2000-2002
State I of IX
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State II of IX
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State III of IX
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State IV of IX
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State V of IX
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State VI of IX, variant
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State VI of IX, variant
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State VII of IX, variant
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State VII of IX, variant
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State VIII of IX, variant
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State VIII of IX, variant<br/>
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State VIII of IX, variant
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State VIII of IX
2000
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2000
State IX of IX
2002
<i>Umbilical Cord</i>
2002
Related Works in the Catalogue
Do Not Abandon Me
State VII of VII
2000
<i>Do Not Abandon Me</i>
2000
Untitled, plate 1 of 14, from the portfolio, Autobiographical Series
State III of III
1994
Untitled, plate 1 of 14, from the portfolio,<i> Autobiographical Series</i>
1994
Baby and Butterfly
State II of II
2007
<i>Baby and Butterfly</i>
2007
Related Works in Other Mediums
I Redo (interior component), from the 3-part installation, I Do, I Undo, I Redo
1999-2000
I Redo (interior component), from the 3-part installation, I Do, I Undo, I Redo
1999-2000
Medium: Steel, glass, wood, and tapestry
Dimensions: overall: 19 1/2 × 12 1/2 × 12 1/2" (49.5 × 31.8 × 31.8 cm); "I Redo" overall (not shown): 57' 4" x 29' 5" x 19' 7" (17.5 x 9 x 6 m)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Do Not Abandon Me
1999
Do Not Abandon Me
1999
Medium: Fabric and thread
Dimensions: overall: 4 3/4 x 20 1/2 x 8 1/2" (12.1 x 52.1 x 21.6 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
The Umbilical Cord
2008
The Umbilical Cord
2008
Medium: Gouache on paper
Dimensions: sheet: 12 1/4 x 10" (31.1 x 25.4 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY