The Laws of Nature

Cat. No. 350e-354e

The Laws of Nature

Date:
c. 2003
Themes
Fabric Works, Figures
Techniques
Drypoint
Support:
Silk
Dimensions:
overall: 8 x 52 1/2" (20.3 x 133.4 cm)
Signature:
"LB" right lower sheet, black ink.
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
1 known series on fabric, printed on a scarf
Edition Information:
Outside the published illustrated book edition on paper (2003) , and the published illustrated book edition on fabric (2006), there are several other unpublished but signed formats of “The Laws of Nature:” a series on fabric, printed in black, in 2 known examples, and a series on fabric, printed in red, in 1 known example, and this series on a scarf, printed in black, with the plates in a different order. (See Related Works in the Catalogue, below.) The states of the plates within the various series sometimes differ from the states of the plates within the published editions.

For consistency, the plate numbers for the untitled compositions remain the same throughout this project. The order on this scarf is as follows: plate 1, plate 4, plate 3, plate 2, plate 5.

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.
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:
The dimensions of the plates in this series could not be documented because this work is not in MoMA's Collection and could not be examined in person. The plate dimensions are from the published impressions on paper in MoMA's Collection. Plate dimensions of fabric works often vary slightly due to stretching. Sheet dimensions were provided by the Louise Bourgeois Studio.

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:
Series of 5 drypoints
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

From the series

Untitled, plate 1 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 4 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 3 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 2 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature
Untitled, plate 5 of 5, from the series, The Laws of Nature

Related Works in the Catalogue

The Laws of Nature
The Laws of Nature
The Laws of Nature
The Laws of Nature
The Laws of Nature

Related Works in Other Mediums

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