Untitled, plate 9 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature

Cat. No. 452/I

Untitled, plate 9 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature

State/Variant:
State I of II
Date:
1998
Themes
Nature, Objects
Techniques
Etching
Dimensions:
plate: 29 7/8 x 21 5/8" (75.9 x 55 cm); sheet: 39 1/4 x 27 1/2" (99.7 x 69.9 cm)
Signature:
"LB" lower right margin, pencil.
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
1 known impression of state I
Edition Information:
Proof before the editioning of state II.
Impression:
Not numbered
Background:
According to Bourgeois’s assistant Jerry Gorovoy, topiary work interested Bourgeois because the cutting and healing of the plant makes the tree stronger. He also points out the portfolio's connection to Bourgeois’s sister, Henriette, who had a condition that caused stiffness in her leg. Bourgeois referred to this as, "in effect, a wooden leg."

The editioned state II of this composition was published as a benefit for the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.
Curatorial Remarks:
The paper type and plate dimensions of this impression could not be 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. The sheet dimensions were provided by the Louise Bourgeois Studio.
Descriptive Title:
Tree with Crutch
Description:
Etching, with pencil additions
State Changes and Additions:
Matrices:
The progression of this composition, as seen in the Evolving Composition Diagram below, involved 2 plates.

Plate 1: line elements of composition; printed in black.

Plate 2: crutch; printed in red.

State Changes:
Plate 1 printed alone.
Artist’s Remarks:
Inscribed on the verso of related drawing, "Topiary," 1997: “Robert Hughes or John Russell / Vocabulary of the topiarist / Tree surgeon / The classical style is built on topiary / French garden, formality / Tivoli, the romantic 19th century English-garden / Care-giver – topiarist. = sculpture / The couple – cauterization / Flaming / TAR + shears / Antiseptic / Water=repellent / topiary AP. 97”

Inscription on the verso of related drawing, Topiary, 1998: "Topiary / I prop you up at the crotch with a crutch / You prop me up, l'aveugle et le Paralytique / Soutenir Souteneur"

Written on a loose sheet, c. 1990s:
“Topiary
The trainer, the teacher, the carver, the butcher
To reject (cut off) and be moral about it
That is the fun
To nurture and train to full potential (valuable, useful)
I am going to cut (reject) everything in sight because I did not get what I wanted
What
To be loved by 1, 2, 3, 4
c’est la peur […]”
(The Easton Foundation: LB-0050)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Untitled, plate 9 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature

1998

Source

1998

Topiary

Source

1998

Topiary
Studies
Untitled (Study for plate 9 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature)
States
Untitled, plate 9 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature
Untitled, plate 9 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature

Portfolio

1998

Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature

Related Works in the Catalogue

Topiary
The Accident
Untitled, plate 1 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature
Untitled, plate 2 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature
Untitled, plate 3 of 9, from the portfolio, Topiary: The Art of Improving Nature
Untitled, plate 6 of 10, from the portfolio, Homely Girl, A Life

Related Works in Other Mediums

Topiary III
Topiary
Topiary
The Accident
Les Lignes de Constructions Sont Invisibles
Topiary
Henriette