Ode â la Bièvre

Cat. No. 532.1

Ode â la Bièvre

State/Variant:
Version 1 of 2, only state
Date:
2002
Themes
Fabric Works, Nature, Words
Techniques
Lithography
Support:
Fabric
Dimensions:
sheet: 6 7/8 x 8 1/8" (17.5 x 20.6 cm)
Signature:
"LB" lower right sheet verso, black ink.
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
SOLO Impression
Edition:
1 known impression of version 1, only state
Edition Information:
Not issued as a published edition at any state.
Impression:
Not numbered
Background:
The Bourgeois family moved to Antony after World War I, and the artist spent her childhood years there. They chose this location for its proximity to the Bièvre River, which contained tannin, an important ingredient in the setting of tapestry dyes for the family’s tapestry restoration business. The Bièvre River cut across the backyard of the property, which was beautifully planted by Bourgeois’s mother and father. In the early 1950s, the Bièvre was filled in. The artist’s relationship to the river and its surrounding gardens is the story behind the 2002 fabric book, "Ode à la Bièvre." See Related Works in the Catalogue below. In 2007, Bourgeois created an editioned version of the unique 2002 book.
Curatorial Remarks:
The artist took liberties with punctuation marks in her text compositions. The titles seen here reflect what is on the work and may not be grammatically correct.
Descriptive Title:
English translation: "Ode to the Bièvre"
Description:
Lithograph
Other Remarks:
According to Bourgeois’s assistant, Jerry Gorovoy, this impression was printed on two joined cuffs from one of the artist’s shirts. Buttonholes on the cuffs are visible on the left side.
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Ode à la Bièvre

2002-2004

First Version
Ode â la Bièvre
Second Version
Ode à la Bièvre

Related Works in the Catalogue

Ode à l'Oubli, cover
Ode à la Bièvre
Ode au Pardon