Cat. No. 531/I
Ex Libris (for Paulo Herkenhoff)
- State/Variant:
- State I of III
- Date:
- 2001
- Themes
- Objects, Words
- Techniques
- Drypoint
- Support:
- Smooth, wove paper
- Dimensions:
- plate: 5 1/8 x 6 1/8" (13 x 15.5 cm); sheet: 10 1/4 x 10 3/16" (26 x 25.8 cm)
- Signature:
- "LB" right lower margin, red ink.
- Publisher
- unpublished
- Printer
- Harlan & Weaver
- Edition:
- 1 known impression of state I
- Edition Information:
- Proof before the editioning of state III.
- Impression:
- Not numbered
- Background:
- "Ex libris" is Latin for "from the books." The phrase is commonly found on bookplates, the decorative labels affixed to the front or back cover of books to indicate ownership. The text, "Si, tenté du demon tu dérobes ce livre, saches que tout frippon est indigne de vivre" is also known from bookplates, and can be translated as "If, tempted by the devil you steal this book, know that any rogue is unworthy of living."
Bourgeois made this print as a bookplate for Paulo Herkenhoff, the Brazilian curator and critic with whom she had a longstanding friendship and professional relationship with the artist.
The bookplate depicts "Janus," a 1968 hanging sculpture the artist made in both bronze and porcelain (see bronze in Related Works in Other Mediums below). "Janus" is one of five different sculptures by the artist named after the Roman divinity. While Herkenhoff was adjunct curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture at MoMA, he included "Janus Fleuri" in the 2002 exhibition "Tempo," and wrote about the "Janus" works in the exhibition catalogue. - Curatorial Remarks:
- Bourgeois developed the earlier states of this composition on a plate that was eventually trimmed down for the edition.
- Description:
- Drypoint, with red ink and pencil additions
- MoMA Credit Line:
- Gift of the artist
- MoMA Accession Number:
- 1472.2008
State I of III
2001
Ex Libris (for Paulo Herkenhoff)
2001-2002
State I of III
2001
<i>Ex Libris </i>(for Paulo Herkenhoff)
2001
State II of III
2001
<i>Ex Libris </i>(for Paulo Herkenhoff)
2001
State III of III
2002
<i>Ex Libris </i>(for Paulo Herkenhoff)
2002
Related Works in the Catalogue
Untitled, bookplate from the illustrated book, Recueil des Secrets de Louyse Bourgeois, deluxe edition
Only state
2005
Untitled, bookplate from the illustrated book,<i> Recueil des Secrets de Louyse Bourgeois</i>, deluxe edition
2005
The Laws of Nature
2003
<i>The Laws of Nature</i>
2003
Bébé Joufflu
State II of III
2002
<i>Bébé Joufflu</i>
2002
Related Works in Other Mediums
Janus Fleuri
1968
Janus Fleuri
1968
Medium: Bronze, gold patina
Dimensions: 10 1/8 x 12 1/2 x 8 3/8" (25.7 x 31.7 x 21.2 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Installation of Janus in Leather Jacket, Janus, Hanging Janus with Jacket, and Janus Fleuri
1968
Installation of Janus in Leather Jacket, Janus, Hanging Janus with Jacket, and Janus Fleuri
1968
Medium: Bronze hanging pieces
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Janus
1968
Janus
1968
Medium: Bronze, dark and polished patina
Dimensions: overall: 10 x 13 x 7" (25.4 x 33 x 17.8 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY