Untitled, no. 1 of 4, from the series, Differentiate

Cat. No. 769, unique variant, in 1256

Untitled, no. 1 of 4, from the series, Differentiate

State/Variant:
Only state, unique variant
Date:
2009
Series:
Differentiate
Alternate Title:
The Fall
Themes
Abstraction, Nature
Techniques
Etching
Support:
Paper
Dimensions:
plate: 59 5/8 × 14 3/8" (151.5 × 36.5 cm); sheet (approx.): 60 × 90" (152.4 × 228.6 cm)
Signature:
See inscription.
Publisher
Osiris
Printer
Wingate Studio
Edition:
Unique
Edition Information:
This is one of 2 unique variants outside the edition to incorporate this plate, printed alone or in combination with another plate in a multi-panel work. When the plate is used alone, the work is included in the Evolving Composition Diagram. When it is printed with another plate, it is included in Related Works in the Catalogue.

See Evolving Composition Diagram:
Untitled, no. 1 of 4, from the series, "Differentiate"

See Related Works in the Catalogue:
Untitled, no. 4 of 4, from the series, "Differentiate"

About the "The Fall" edition:
There is 1 known impression of the only state, outside the edition. There are 2 known cancellation proofs on paper, each with a large "X" drawn across the composition from each corner of the plate.
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 hand additions and paper type could not be documented because this work is not in MoMA's Collection and could not be examined in person. The plate dimensions are from an impression in MoMA's Collection. The overall mediums and sheet dimensions for the series were provided by the Louise Bourgeois Studio.
Description:
panel (a): Pencil
panel (b): Soft ground etching, with hand additions
panel (c): Pencil
Inscription:
panel (a): "Differentiate / a story by / Louise Bourgeois" center comp., pencil, artist's hand.
panel (c): "Differentiate / a story / by Louise Bourgeois" center comp., pencil, artist's hand.
Installation Remarks:
This composition is one of 4 that constitute a single work of art. All of the compositions are to be exhibited together in the indicated sequence.
© The Easton Foundation/VAGA at ARS, NY

The Fall

2007-2009

States
The Fall
Unique Variants
Untitled, no. 1 of 4, from the series, Differentiate

Series

2009

Differentiate

Related Works in the Catalogue

Toi et Moi
Pendule
Untitled (Branch with Tall Leaf Cluster), in Les Arbres (3), from the editioned series of portfolios, Les Arbres (1-6)
Untitled (Branch with Fifteen Leaves), in Les Arbres (4), from the editioned series of portfolios, Les Arbres (1-6)
Differentiate
Swaying
Accumulations
Untitled, no. 4 of 4, from the series, Differentiate

Related Works in Other Mediums

Topiary
Abstract Figure
Untitled
Topiary
Publication Excerpts

Louise Bourgeois,

Differentiate,

New York, Osiris, 2009

Bourgeois's entire text for this series appears on the panels cited below.

No. 1:
Differentiate
a story by
Louise Bourgeois
Differentiate
a story
by Louise Bourgeois

No. 2:
In the morning
you come out
of the bumpy
night
you are on the other side
you have the strength
and energy
to remedy

No. 3:
You have the
need to
put things
in order
To tidy up
to collect
to repair

No. 4:
To sort out
to begin to
differentiate