
Cat. No. 247/IV
Umbilical Cord
- State/Variant:
- State IV of IX
- Date:
- 2000
- Themes
- Figures, Motherhood & Family
- Techniques
- Drypoint, Engraving
- Support:
- Smooth, wove paper
- Dimensions:
- plate: 10 13/16 x 8 3/8" (27.5 x 21.3 cm); sheet: 11 3/16 x 8 3/4" (28.4 x 22.2 cm)
- Signature:
- Not signed
- Publisher
- unpublished
- Printer
- Harlan & Weaver
- Edition:
- 1 known impression of state IV
- 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, blue, and gray watercolor, and pencil additions
- State Changes and Additions:
- Changes from state III in engraving: female figure's facial features and thumbs reconfigured; hair surrounding face further delineated; ground lines further delineated, umbilical cord reinforced.
Additions in red watercolor: female figure's body filled in; baby's body filled in, anticipating state IX; both figures' hair further delineated, anticipating state VI.
Additions in blue watercolor: oval border delineated, anticipating state IX.
Additions in gray watercolor: both figures' hair further delineated, anticipating state VI.
Additions in pencil: female figure's hair and hairline further delineated, anticipating state VI. - MoMA Credit Line:
- Gift of the artist
- MoMA Accession Number:
- 1425.2012
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Open to compare works


Select a work in the diagram below
State IV of IX
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