Cat. No. 653/III, variant 2
Bébé Joufflu
- State/Variant:
- State III of III, variant
- Date:
- 2003
- Alternate Title:
- The Big Baby; Paulo, Baby of the Art World
- Themes
- Figures
- Techniques
- Drypoint, Engraving
- Support:
- Smooth, wove paper
- Dimensions:
- plate: 9 15/16 x 7 7/8" (25.2 x 20 cm); sheet: 13 7/8 x 11 1/4" (35.2 x 28.6 cm)
- Signature:
- Not signed
- Publisher
- unpublished
- Printer
- Harlan & Weaver
- Edition:
- 3 known variant impressions of state III
- Edition Information:
- Not issued as a published edition at any state.
The additional known impression of state III is in the collection of Tate Modern, London. It is signed "LB" in the lower right margin and inscribed "AP" in the lower left margin, both in red ink. The "AP" inscription, in the artist's hand, does not indicate a conventional A.P. impression, as "Bébé Joufflu" was not issued as a published edition at any state.
It is also inscribed "To Rosamond and John / Love, / Louise" in the lower middle margin in red ink. The inscription refers to the author and editor Rosamond Bernier (1916-2016) and her husband, art critic John Russell (1919-2008), who were close friends of Bourgeois's. - Impression:
- Not numbered
- Curatorial Remarks:
- Printer Felix Harlan of Harlan & Weaver remembers Bourgeois using the working title, "The Big Baby," for this composition. However, the Louise Bourgeois Studio has designated the title to be the same as that of the source drawing: "Bébé Joufflu." This drawing was exhibited in "Louise Bourgeois Drawings and Sculpture" at Kunsthaus Bregenz in 2002. The accompanying catalogue lists the title incorrectly as "Bébé Jousslu."
Previous MoMA cataloguers used the title, "Paulo, Baby of the Art World," based on the inscription on the verso of State I. That inscription refers to Paulo Herkenhoff, the Brazilian curator and critic with whom Bourgeois had a longstanding friendship and professional relationship. As a gift for Herkenhoff, Bourgeois made the 2002 composition "Ex Libris (for Paulo Herkenhoff)," seen below in Related Works in Other Mediums. - Descriptive Title:
- English translation: "Big Cheeked Baby"
- Description:
- Drypoint and engraving, with selective wiping
- State Changes and Additions:
- Changes from state II, in engraving: lines reinforced throughout; hair increased.
- MoMA Credit Line:
- Gift of the artist
- MoMA Accession Number:
- 1644.2008
- This Work in Other Collections:
- Tate Modern, London
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Open to compare works
Select a work in the diagram below
State III of III, variant
2003
A
B
Bébé Joufflu
2002-2003
Source
2002
Not in MoMA's Collection
Bébé Joufflu
2002
Not in MoMA's Collection
Bébé Joufflu
2002
Medium: Ink, pencil, and correction fluid on paper
Dimensions: sheet: 11 3/8 x 9" (28.9 x 22.9 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
States
State I of III
2002
<i>Bébé Joufflu</i>
2002
State II of III
2002
<i>Bébé Joufflu</i>
2002
Not in MoMA's Collection
State III of III, variant
2002
Not in MoMA's Collection
<i>Bébé Joufflu</i>
2002
State III of III, variant
2003
<i>Bébé Joufflu</i>
2003
Related Works in the Catalogue
Published
The Smile
Only state
2001
<i>The Smile</i>
2001
Published
Unaware and Aware
Version 2 of 2, only state
1997-2003
<i>Unaware and Aware</i>
1997-2003
Published
Ex Libris (for Paulo Herkenhoff)
State III of III
2002
<i>Ex Libris </i>(for Paulo Herkenhoff)
2002
Published
Untitled, plate 3 of 6, from the portfolio, Together
Only state
2005
Untitled, plate 3 of 6, from the portfolio,<i> Together</i>
2005