Self Portrait

Cat. No. 456-479

Self Portrait

Date:
2009
Themes
Body Parts, Fabric Works, Faces & Portaits, Figures, Motherhood & Family, Objects, Spiders
Techniques
Drypoint
Support:
Fabric
Dimensions:
plate (each): 4 15/16 x 3 3/8" (12.5 x 8.6 cm); sheet (each): 15 1/2 x 12 1/2" (39.4 x 31.8 cm)
Signature:
"LB" right lower margin each sheet, stitched in brown thread.
Publisher
Louise Bourgeois
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
5; plus 1 A.P.
Edition Information:
All 24 sheets that comprise set no. 1/5 are mounted on a single large table cloth and arranged in the formation of a clock. See the first work titled "Self Portrait" in Related Works in the Catalogue below. That composition includes, above the clock, at top left, one additional drypoint printed by Harlan & Weaver, New York, and at top middle and top right, two digital prints printed by Dyenamix, New York. Set nos. 2/5–5/5 and A.P. 1/1 do not include these three additional prints.

There are variations in the fabrics used in this edition, including scorching or staining, as is commonly found in the old fabrics Bourgeois chose to use as printing surfaces.

Dimensions vary slightly throughout the edition because of hemming and stretching fluctuations.
Impression:
"No. 3/5" lower middle sheet verso each sheet, black ink, unknown hand.
Background:
This series depicts the story of Bourgeois’s life. Beginning with an image of a young girl, it progresses through marriage and having children, and finally, to predominant themes in the artist's work.
Curatorial Remarks:
There are no source drawings for this series, unlike for many of Bourgeois's prints.

Three plates in this series—"Desire," plate 2 of 24, and two plates each titled "Louise," plates 15 and 21 of 24—were incorporated into three fabric works: "Faith Hope Charity," and two compositions each titled "Eugénie Grandet." See Related Works in the Catalogue below.
Description:
Series of 24 compositions: 24 drypoints, 1 with etching
Installation Remarks:
The 24 compositions that make up this series can be exhibited together or individually.
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist
MoMA Accession Number:
110.2012.1-24
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

From the series

Young Girl, plate 1 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Desire, plate 2 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Robert, plate 3 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Louise and Robert, plate 4 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Marriage, plate 5 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Louise and Robert, plate 6 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Michel, plate 7 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Pregnant, plate 8 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Birth, plate 9 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Birth, plate 10 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Pregnant, plate 11 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Birth, plate 12 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Feeding, plate 13 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Three Sons, plate 14 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Louise, plate 15 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Hysterical, plate 16 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Good Mother, plate 17 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Seated, plate 18 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Arch of Hysteria, plate 19 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Topiary, plate 20 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Louise, plate 21 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
La Nausée, plate 22 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Louise, plate 23 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Mother, plate 24 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait

Related Works in the Catalogue

Faith Hope Charity
Autobiographical Series
Self Portrait
Self Portrait
Eugénie Grandet
Eugénie Grandet
Self Portrait
Self Portrait

Related Works in Other Mediums

Torso, Self-Portrait
Self Portrait
Self Portrait
Self Portrait