Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature

Cat. No. 354b/IV, variant 1

Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature

State/Variant:
State IV of V, variant
Date:
c. 2003
Series:
The Laws of Nature
Themes
Fabric Works, Figures
Techniques
Drypoint
Support:
Fabric
Dimensions:
plate: 4 3/4 x 5 3/4" (12.1 x 14.6 cm); sheet: 7 13/16 x 8 3/4" (19.9 x 22.3 cm)
Signature:
"LB" right lower margin, stitched in red thread.
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
3 known variant impressions of state IV on fabric
Edition Information:
Proof outside the illustrated book edition of state IV on paper, and before the illustrated book edition of state V on fabric.

This impression is part of an initialed, but unpublished series.

There are several unpublished but signed formats of “The Laws of Nature:” a series on fabric, printed in black, in 2 known examples; a series on fabric, printed in red, in 1 known example; and a series on a scarf, printed in black, with the plates in a different order. (See the Evolving Composition Diagram.) The states of the plates within the various series sometimes differ from the states of plates within the published editions.

There are also two sets of plates, printed in red, with no signatures. One set, from c. 2003, is on silk; the other, from c. 2006, is on paper. Since the prints in these sets have no signatures, the sets are not considered to be completed series.

There is 1 additional initialed impression of this composition on a heavy textured fabric, printed in black. It does not make up part of a series.

There are variations in the old fabrics Bourgeois chose to use as printing surfaces. The example reproduced here has a stain in the right middle margin.
Impression:
Not numbered
Background:
The artist told printer Felix Harlan that the figures in this series are playing an adult version of a French children's game, known as "faire des galipettes," meaning to do somersaults. In fact, the expression "faire des galipettes" is also slang for having sex, a punning reference that Bourgeois must have enjoyed.
Curatorial Remarks:
In contrast to the designation "illustrated book," which contains text, this catalogue designates as a "series" those instances where there is no text accompanying a group of related plates.
Description:
Drypoint
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from state III in drypoint: female figure's hair further delineated.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
74.2012.5
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature

2003-2006

States
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the illustrated book, The Laws of Nature

Illustrated Book

2003

The Laws of Nature

Illustrated Book

2006

The Laws of Nature

Series

c. 2003

The Laws of Nature

Series

2001-2003

The Laws of Nature

Series

c. 2003

The Laws of Nature

Series

c. 2003

The Laws of Nature

Related Works in the Catalogue

The Couple, plate 5 of 7, from the portfolio, La Réparation

Related Works in Other Mediums

Couple
Couple
The Couple
Le Bateau Adulte Enfant(The Laws of Nature)