Swelling (#3)

Cat. No. 747, unique variant 3

Swelling (#3)

State/Variant:
Only state, unique variant
Date:
2008
Themes
Nature
Techniques
Etching
Support:
Smooth, wove handmade paper
Dimensions:
plate (in 2 vertical parts) (overall): 59 1/4 × 35 1/2" (150.5 × 90.2 cm); sheet: 60 1/8 × 35 1/2" (152.7 × 90.2 cm)
Signature:
"LB" lower right comp, pencil.
Publisher
Osiris
Printer
Wingate Studio
Edition:
Unique
Edition Information:
This is one of 7 unique variants outside the edition to incorporate this plate, printed alone or in combination with other plates in multi-panel works. 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:
"Swelling I"
"Swelling II"
"Swelling (#3)"
Untitled, no. 3 of 6, from the series, "I Give Everything Away"

See Related Works in the Catalogue:
"Love Is As Big As the Sky"
Untitled, no. 3 of 3, from the series, "Jalouse"
"The Geometry of Pleasure (#5)"

About the "Swelling" edition:
Within the edition of diptychs, selective wiping is consistent throughout.
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:
The plate dimensions are from the impression in the edition in MoMA’s Collection. The sheet dimensions were provided by the Louise Bourgeois Studio.

The verso inscriptions could not be fully documented due to framing.
Description:
Soft ground etching, with red ink, red and blue watercolor, white gouache, and pencil additions
MoMA Credit Line:
Gift of the artist and Osiris, New York
MoMA Accession Number:
170.2018
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

Swelling

2007-2010

States
Swelling
Unique Variants
Swelling I
Swelling II
Swelling (#3)
Untitled, no. 3 of 6, from the series, I Give Everything Away

Series

2010

I Give Everything Away

Related Works in the Catalogue

Love Is As Big As The Sky
Pendule
The Twist
Les Mollusques
The Geometry of Pleasure (#5)
Untitled, no. 3 of 3, from the series, Jalouse
The Nest

Related Works in Other Mediums

Les Fleurs
Untitled