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

Cat. No. 354e/III, variant 4

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

State/Variant:
State III of V, variant
Date:
c. 2003
Series:
The Laws of Nature
Themes
Fabric Works, Figures
Techniques
Drypoint
Support:
Silk
Dimensions:
plate: 4 3/4 x 5 3/4" (12 x 14.6 cm); sheet: 8 x 52 1/2" (20.3 x 133.4 cm)
Signature:
"LB" right lower sheet, black ink.
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
4 known variant impressions of state III (1 on a scarf)
Edition Information:
Proof before the illustrated book edition of state IV on paper, and the illustrated book edition of state V on fabric.

This impression is part of a series on a scarf, with the plates in a different order from the published editions. For consistency, the plate numbers for the untitled compositions remain the same throughout this project. The order on the scarf is as follows: plate 1, plate 4, plate 3, plate 2, plate 5.

There are several other unpublished but signed formats of “The Laws of Nature:” a series on fabric, printed in black, in 2 known examples, and a series on fabric, printed in red, in 1 known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. (See the Evolving Composition Diagram.) The states of the plates within the various series sometimes differ from the states 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.
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 this impression could not be documented beacuse this work is not in MoMA's Collection and could not be examined in person. The plate dimensions are from the published impression 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:
Drypoint
State Changes and Additions:
Changes from state II in drypoint: female figure's hair and shoes further delineated; male figure's hair and penis further delineated; various contours reinforced.
© 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)