Male and Female

Cat. No. 506.1-2/diptych 4

Male and Female

State/Variant:
Diptych: Version 1 of 3, state II of VII, variant, and version 2 of 3, state III of VIII, variant
Date:
2004
Themes
Animals & Insects
Techniques
Drypoint
Support:
Paper
Dimensions:
plate (each): 13 7/8 x 9 15/16" (35.2 x 25.3 cm)
Signature:
Left side (a) and right side (b): "Louise Bourgeois" lower right margin, pencil.
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
5 known diptychs, outside the edition
Edition Information:
Proof before the editioning of Diptych 6, seen below in the Evolving Composition Diagram and comprising: left side (a): version 1, state VII, and right side (b): version 2, state VIII. This composition was also issued as a published edition at version 3, state II, titled "Le Chat."

Diptychs outside the edition are combinations of the first and second versions of this composition, at various states.
Impression:
Not numbered
Curatorial Remarks:
The type of paper 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 on paper in MoMA’s Collection. The sheet dimensions were provided by the Louise Bourgeois Studio.

Although the development of the Male and Female diptych has been divided into first and second versions for clarity, Bourgeois worked on both plates concurrently.
Description:
left side (a): drypoint, with red watercolor, red pencil, blue ink, and blue pencil additions; right side (b): drypoint, with red watercolor, blue ink, and blue pencil additions
State Changes and Additions:
Left side (a): Version 1, state II, variant
Changes from version 1, state I, by burnishing: left side of right rear leg and lower half of tail removed.
Changes from version 1, state I, in drypoint: tail and right rear leg reconfigured with exposed anus; further delineation of fur on cat’s body; mammary glands delineated; composition reinforced overall.

Right side (b): Version 2, state III, variant
Changes from version 1: version 1, state I composition inverted and transferred to a new, identically sized plate, in drypoint.
Changes from version 2, state II, by burnishing: remnants of previous configuration of leg, tail, and genitals fully removed.
Other Remarks:
According to printer Felix Harlan, the third, smaller version in the Evolving Composition Diagram was initially created as a test plate. Aquatint was being considered to add shading to the male cat. Ultimately, Bourgeois decided against aquatint for the shading, but she liked the compositional fragment on the test plate. She added the contour of the cat's body and editioned this version as "Le Chat" on handmade paper.
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Male and Female

2001-2005

Source

2001

Female
First Version
Female from Male and Female
Female from Male and Female
Female from Male and Female
Female from Male and Female
Female from Male and Female
Female from Male and Female
Female from Male and Female
Female from Male and Female
Female from Male and Female
Female from Male and Female
Female from Male and Female
Second Version
Male from Male and Female
Male from Male and Female
Male from Male and Female
Male from Male and Female
Male from Male and Female
Male from Male and Female
Male from Male and Female
Male from Male and Female
Male from Male and Female
Diptych Version
Male and Female
Male and Female
Male and Female
Male and Female
Male and Female
Male and Female
Third Version
Le Chat
Le Chat

Related Works in the Catalogue

Champfleurette, the White Cat
Untitled, plate 1 of 5, from the illustrated book, Metamorfosis
Self Portrait
Untitled, no. 11 of 12, from the illustrated book, To Whom It May Concern
The Cross-Eyed Woman II

Related Works in Other Mediums

Nature Study
You Ask Me Too Much