Cat. No. 547.2
Couples
- State/Variant:
- Version 2 of 2, only state
- Date:
- 2001
- Themes
- Figures, Spirals
- Techniques
- Lithography
- Support:
- Paper
- Dimensions:
- sheet: 44 x 26" (111.8 x 66 cm)
- Signature:
- "Louise Bourgeois" lower right composition, pencil, artist's hand.
- Publisher
- Bermuda Editions
- Printer
- SOLO Impression
- Edition:
- 150; plus 25 A.P., 25 H.C. (numbered I-XXV), 6 P.P., 3 T.P., 1 B.A.T.
- Edition Information:
- According to printer Judith Solodkin of SOLO Impression, most of the A.P. and H.C. impressions of this composition include gold acrylic hand additions in the figures' necklaces, as seen in the other impression of version 2 in the Evolving Composition Diagram. This A.P. impression, in MoMA's collection, does not include the gold hand additions. According to Judith Solodkin, none of the impressions numbered 1/150-150/150 have gold hand additions.
- Impression:
- "Artist's Proof 1" lower left composition, pencil, unknown hand.
- Background:
- Version 2 of this composition was published as a benefit for The State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia to help fund the 2001-02 exhibition "Louise Bourgeois at the Hermitage." It was the first time the work of a living American artist was shown at this venue. Julie Sylvester curated the exhibition and published the print under the imprint, Bermuda Editions. A reproduction of the print (version 1, state IV, variant 1 in the Evolving Composition Diagram, below) formed the cover of a special edition of the exhibition catalogue: Sylvester, Julie and Mikhail Piotrovsky. "Louise Bourgeois at the Hermitage." St. Petersburg: The State Hermitage Museum, 2001.
- Curatorial Remarks:
- The imagery of wrapped couples in this composition is related to a performance piece Bourgeois created in 1992. At that time, she executed a 178-foot long cloth banner with a red screen-printed text, titled "She Lost It." The text comprises a self-authored parable. (See "She Lost It" below in Related Works in the Catalogue.) On December 5, 1992, the artist orchestrated a multi-part performance in Philadelphia with the banner as the centerpiece. The performance began with the banner fully wrapped around a single performer. Slowly the banner was unwrapped by other performers and re-wrapped around a standing and embracing couple. The parable printed on the banner could be read by the audience as the unwrapping and re-wrapping took place. When the embracing couple was fully wrapped by the banner, it looked very much like one of the "Couples" in this composition.
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 sheet dimensions were provided by the Louise Bourgeois Studio.
A variant A.P. impression of the only state of version 2 is included in the Evolving Composition Diagram below. In the variant impression, the figures' necklaces were not painted gold. Any other variations from this impression is due to photography.
According to the Solo Impression documentation sheet for this print edition, Julie Sylvester was called Julie Sylvester-Cabot at Bermuda Editions at the time of publication. - Description:
- Lithograph, with gold acrylic paint additions
- State Changes and Additions:
- The published impressions of version 2 included 8 lithography matrices.
State Changes:
Changes from version 1: composition transferred to new matrices in lithography. Oval shape added at base in place of horizon line, gradation added to background.
Additions in gold acrylic: necklaces filled in. - Benefit Work:
- For The State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- This Work in Other Collections:
- The State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Version 2 of 2, only state
2001
Couples
2001
Source
1995
Untitled, no. 139 of 220, from the series, The Insomnia Drawings
1995
Untitled, no. 139 of 220, from the series, The Insomnia Drawings
1995
Medium: Red and blue ink, blue pencil, and pencil
Dimensions: sheet (approx.): 12 x 9" (30.5 x 22.9 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Source
2001
Couples
2001
Couples
2001
Medium: Ink and pencil on tissue paper
Dimensions: sheet: 14 × 10 3/8" (35.6 × 26.4 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Version 1 of 2, state I of VII, variant
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state I of VII, variant
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state II of VII, variant
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state II of VII, variant
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state III of VII, variant
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state III of VII, variant
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state IV of VII, variant
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state IV of VII, variant
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state V of VII, variant
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state V of VII, variant
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state VI of VII
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 1 of 2, state VII of VII
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, only state
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Version 2 of 2, only state
2001
<i>Couples</i>
2001
Related Works in the Catalogue
Hamlet and Ophelia
State VI of VI
1997
<i>Hamlet and Ophelia</i>
1997
She Lost It (1)
Only version
1992
<i>She Lost It </i>(1)
1992
Louise and Robert, plate 6 of 24, from the series, Self Portrait
Only state
2009
<i>Louise and Robert</i>, plate 6 of 24, from the series,<i> Self Portrait</i>
2009
Spiral Woman, plate 2 of 7, from the portfolio, La Réparation
State X of X
2003
<i>Spiral Woman</i>, plate 2 of 7, from the portfolio,<i> La Réparation</i>
2003
Embracing the Tree
State II of II, variant
2000
<i>Embracing the Tree</i>
2000
The Couple, plate 5 of 7, from the portfolio, La Réparation
State XVII of XVII
2003
<i>The Couple</i>, plate 5 of 7, from the portfolio,<i> La Réparation</i>
2003
Progression
Version 1 of 2, state I of II
1990
<i>Progression</i>
1990
Related Works in Other Mediums
Spiral Woman
2002
Spiral Woman
2002
Medium: Ink and pencil on paper
Dimensions: sheet: 11 x 8 1/2" (27.9 x 21.6 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Couple
2001
Couple
2001
Medium: Fabric
Dimensions: overall: 20 x 7 x 6" (50.8 x 17.8 x 15.2 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Untitled
1997
Untitled
1997
Medium: Watercolor, pencil, crayon, and gouache on paper
Dimensions: sheet: 14 x 10 3/4" (35.6 x 27.3 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
The Couple
2007-2009
The Couple
2007-2009
Medium: Cast and polished aluminum
Dimensions: overall: 61 x 30 x 26" (154.9 x 76.2 x 66 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
The Couple
2003
The Couple
2003
Medium: Aluminum
Dimensions: overall: 48 x 26 x 15" (121.9 x 66 x 38.1 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY
Couple I
1996
Couple I
1996
Medium: Fabric
Dimensions: overall: 80 x 27 x 28" (203.2 x 68.6 x 71.1 cm)
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY