Who, Where, When, Why, What

Cat. No. 542.2/III

Who, Where, When, Why, What

State/Variant:
Version 2 of 2, state III of VIII
Date:
1999
Themes
Architecture, Music, Words
Techniques
Aquatint, Drypoint
Support:
Paper, with music paper chine collé
Dimensions:
plate: 11 7/8 x 9 13/16" (30.1 x 25 cm); sheet: 11 3/4 x 8 3/4" (29.8 x 22.2 cm)
Signature:
Not signed
Publisher
unpublished
Printer
Harlan & Weaver
Edition:
1 known impression of version 2, state III
Edition Information:
Not issued as a published edition at any state.
Impression:
Not numbered
Background:
In August of 1999, the Dalai Lama spoke at several well-attended events in New York City. Bourgeois's son, Jean-Louis, requested that his mother execute a benefit print to raise money for the Dalai Lama’s cause about a month prior to the speaking engagements. Although Bourgeois created this composition, the benefit project did not come to fruition and this print was never published.
Curatorial Remarks:
The 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 impressions in MoMA’s Collection. The sheet dimensions were provided by the Louise Bourgeois Studio.

A variant impression of version 2, state IV was sold at Phillips, New York, “Editions” auction on November 23, 2008, as lot 90. The description lists a "numbered edition of 25 and 7 artist's proofs, published by Harlan & Weaver, New York." According to Felix Harlan of Harlan & Weaver, this composition was never published.
Description:
Drypoint and aquatint, with chine collé, red ink, and white gouache additions
State Changes and Additions:
Matrices:
The progression of version 2, as seen in the Evolving Composition Diagram below, involved 3 plates.
Plate 1: contours of composition and shading of capital W’s, in drypoint; printed in red or black.
Plate 2: shading of house borders and segments of smoke, in aquatint; printed in red or black.
Plate 3: smoke spiral, reconfigured text, and contours of capital W’s in soft ground etching; printed in red or black.

State Changes:
Plate 1 printed in red.
Changes from version 1: composition reconfigured with text in boxes within a house shape, in drypoint.
Changes from version 2, state II, by burnishing: borders of roof partially removed.
Changes from version 2, state II, in drypoint: borders of roof and door widened.
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Who, Where, When, Why, What

1999-2008

Source

1999

Who Where When Why What
First Version
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Second Version
Who Where When Why What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What
Who, Where, When, Why, What

Related Works in the Catalogue

The Rectory
Plate 4 of 9, from the illustrated book, He Disappeared into Complete Silence, first edition (Example 1)
La Folie
Maison

Related Works in Other Mediums

Who, Where, When, Why, What
Spider Trees
Post Partum Depression of the Mother
The Five Magic Words