
Cat. No. 247/VI, variant 1
Umbilical Cord
- State/Variant:
- State VI of IX, variant
- Date:
- 2000
- Themes
- Figures, Motherhood & Family
- Techniques
- Drypoint, Engraving
- Support:
- Smooth, wove Hahnemühle paper
- Dimensions:
- plate: 10 7/8 x 8 3/8" (27.7 x 21.3 cm); sheet: 15 1/2 x 11 1/8" (39.3 x 28.3 cm)
- Signature:
- "LB" lower right margin, pencil.
- Publisher
- unpublished
- Printer
- Harlan & Weaver
- Edition:
- 2 known variant impressions of state VI
- 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:
- Engraving and drypoint, with red stencil, gray watercolor, and red ink additions
- State Changes and Additions:
- Changes from state V in drypoint: female figure's hair further delineated.
Additions by stencil: female figure's body filled in.
Additions in gray watercolor: female figure's hair and baby's hair reinforced, anticipating state VII. - MoMA Credit Line:
- Gift of the artist
- MoMA Accession Number:
- 1461.2008
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Open to compare works


Select a work in the diagram below
State VI of IX, variant
2000
A
B
Umbilical Cord
2000-2002
States
Related Works in the Catalogue
Related Works in Other Mediums

Not in MoMA's Collection

Do Not Abandon Me
1999
Not in MoMA's Collection

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

Not in MoMA's Collection

I Redo (interior component), from the 3-part installation, I Do, I Undo, I Redo
1999-2000
Not in MoMA's Collection

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

Not in MoMA's Collection

The Umbilical Cord
2008
Not in MoMA's Collection

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