Elle

Cat. No. 748, unique variant 3

Elle

State/Variant:
Only state, unique variant
Date:
2009
Alternate Title:
Opening Up
Themes
Abstraction, Nature
Techniques
Etching
Support:
Paper
Dimensions:
plate: 55 9/16 × 13 3/4" (141.2 × 35 cm); sheet: 59 3/8 × 39 7/8" (150.8 × 101.3 cm)
Signature:
"LB" right middle margin, pencil.
Publisher
Osiris
Printer
Wingate Studio
Edition:
Unique
Edition Information:
This is one of 10 unique variants outside the edition to incorporate this plate, printed alone or in combination with other plates in multi-panel works. Most include extensive hand additions and sometimes partial inking of the plate. When the plate is used alone, the work is included in the Evolving Composition Diagram. When it is printed with other plates, it is included in Related Works in the Catalogue.

See Evolving Composition Diagram:
Untitled, plate 4 of 9, from the illustrated book, "Differentiate"
Untitled, no. 3 of 3, from the series, "This Need"
"Elle"
Untitled, no. 2 of 3, from the series, "Jalouse"
Untitled, no. 1 of 4, from the series, "Have a Little Courage"
"Les Matins Se Lèvent"
Untitled, no. 6 of 6, from the series, "I Give Everything Away"

See Related Works in the Catalogue:
"A Stretch of Time"
"The Geometry of Pleasure (#2)"
Untitled, no. 3 of 3, from the series, "Jalouse"

About the "Opening Up" edition:
Within the edition, selective wiping varies from impression to impression. There is 1 known variant impression of the only state, outside the edition.
Impression:
Not numbered
Background:
Benjamin Shiff, the director of the Osiris imprint, collaborated with Bourgeois in a highly experimental phase of printmaking that occupied the last years of her life, from 2005 to 2010. He first established a working relationship with the artist in the 1990s, but the late period is particularly noteworthy for the innovative and complex large-scale projects that evolved at that time. Shiff made use of professional workshops for printing, but he oversaw the creation of the printing plates as Bourgeois worked on them in her home studio. He also provided assistance as she added extensive hand additions and texts, and as she combined individual compositions into multi-panel works and illustrated books.
Curatorial Remarks:
On the verso, this impression includes a variant impression outside the "My Inner Life" edition, with no hand additions. For the full "My Inner Life" composition, see Related Works in the Catalogue.

The type of paper, plate dimensions, and mediums of the hand additions and signature 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.

Although "Opening Up" was not editioned until 2008, the plate was developed one year earlier and impressions were included in 2 works completed in 2007.
Descriptive Title:
English translation: "She"
Description:
Soft ground etching, with gouache and mixed media additions
Inscription:
"Elle / est / seule / elle" right middle margin, pencil, artist's hand.
State Changes and Additions:
Matrices:
Plate partially inked.
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Opening Up

2007-2010

States
Opening Up
Opening Up
Unique Variants
Untitled, plate 4 of 9, from the illustrated book, Differentiate
Untitled, no. 3 of 3, from the series, This Need
Elle
Untitled, no. 1 of 4, from the series, Have a Little Courage
Untitled, no. 2 of 3, from the series, Jalouse
Untitled, no. 6 of 6, from the series, I Give Everything Away
Les Matins Se Lèvent

Illustrated Book

2007

Differentiate

Series

2007

This Need

Series

2009

Have a Little Courage

Series

2009

Jalouse

Series

2010

I Give Everything Away

Related Works in the Catalogue

My Inner Life
La Famille
The Geometry of Pleasure (#2)
A Stretch of Time
The Smell of Eucalyptus (#1)
Losing It
Untitled, no. 3 of 3, from the series, Jalouse
Accumulations