Cat. No. 404/IV

Champfleurette #2

State/Variant:: State IV of VII
Date:: 1999

Alternate Title:: The Angry Cat
Themes: Animals & Insects, Faces & Portaits
Techniques: Drypoint
Support:: Paper
Dimensions:: plate: 9 15/16 x 11 15/16" (25.2 x 30.3 cm); sheet: 16 1/2 x 18" (41.9 x 45.7 cm)
Signature:: "LB" lower right comp., black ink; "LB" lower right margin, black ink.
Publisher: unpublished
Printer: Harlan & Weaver
Edition:: 1 known impression of state IV
Edition Information:: Proof before the editioning of state VII.

The "AP" inscription, in the artist's hand, does not indicate a conventional A.P. impression, which would be of the final state.
Impression:: "AP" lower left margin, black ink, artist's hand.
Background:: In the 1950s, when Bourgeois was living with her husband and children in an apartment on 18th Street in New York City, the family had two cats: Champfleurette and Tyger.
Curatorial Remarks:: States I-VI of this composition are each titled "Champfleurette #2." The editioned state, state VII, is titled "The Angry Cat." (See also the 1993-1994 print, “Champfleurette, The White Cat,” in Related Works in the Catalogue below.)

The type of paper and plate dimensions are not documented because this impression is not in MoMA's Collection and could not be examined in person. The plate dimensions are from the published impression in MoMA's Collection.

Publisher Harlan & Weaver groups the editioned state of this composition with ten other drypoints of 1999, under the title, “11 Drypoints.” Each of the 11 compositions can be displayed individually. The full set is as follows:
“The Accident”
“The Angry Cat”
“Don’t Put Your Foot in Your Mouth”
“Fear”
“Feet (Socks)”
“Fences Are Obsolete”
“Madeleine”
“Mosquito”
“Mother and Child”
“Please Hang in There”
“The Smell of the Feet”

A tea towel merchandise item was made from a variant of state II (Cat. No. 404/II, variant 1). A mouse pad merchandise item was made from a different variant of state II (Cat. No. 404/II, variant 2). A t-shirt merchandise item was made from state VI (Cat. No. 404/VI).
Description:: Drypoint, with blue, black, and red ink, white crayon, and pencil additions
State Changes and Additions:: Changes from state III in drypoint: outlines of small, elliptical forms overall reinforced; small, elliptical form above left eye shaded.
Additions in pencil and blue ink: ears and mouth shaded, anticipating state V.
Additions in blue and black ink: eyes enlarged, anticipating state V.
Additions in blue ink: small, elliptical forms on left and right contours of cat’s face further shaded, anticipating state V; top contour of cat’s face reinforced, anticipating state V.
Additions in black ink: elliptical form added at nose, anticipating state V.
Bibliography:: Malbert, Roger, and Juliet Mitchell. "Louise Bourgeois: Autobiographical Prints." London: Hayward, 2016. (Catalogue accompanying the touring exhibition "Louise Bourgeois Prints: Autobiographical Series and 11 Drypoints".)