LOUISE BOURGEOIS
Women with wonderfully eccentric hair, which transform into vegetation or animals are a recurring motif in Bourgeois’ work. She is most commonly associated with her spider iconography, which is a multi-faceted metaphor referencing the mother as creator, devourer, and protector. Bourgeois grew up in a textile family and many of her works are on and/or about fabric. This work printed on silk emphasizes the spider’s ability to create its own weaving material, creating webs of concentric patterns, which is another of Bourgeois’ central themes. “The spider—why the spider? Because my best friend was my mother and she was deliberate, clever, patient, soothing, reasonable, dainty, subtle, indispensable, neat, and as useful as a spider.”
GirlWithHair, 2007
Archival dye on silk taffeta sewn to linen
23 ¾ x 17 ½ in. (60.3 x 44.5 cm)
Embroidered LB,numbered verso
Edition of 12,
Published by Carolina Nitsch
BOU-0199
$95,000
Pleaseinquire
TheCurvedHouse, 2020
Carved pink marble
4 ¾ x 8 ¼ x 2 ¾ in. (12 x 21 x 7cm)
Incised LB and numbered
Edition of 12
Published by Carolina Nitsch for the Whitney Museum of American Art: Sculpture Edition Series
BOU-0214
SOLD
MountainPonds, 1993
Hand-colored engraving on paper
26 ½ x 32 ¼ in. (67.3 x 81.9 cm)
Edition of 7 unique variants
BOU-0396
$48,000
Pleaseinquire
Engraving, etching, aquatint, dry point on paper
24 x 29 in. (61 x 175.3 cm)
Edition of 9
BOU-0397
$38,000
Pleaseinquire
LacsdeMontagne,1997LacsdeMontagne,1997
Engraving, etching, aquatint, dry point on paper 24 x 29 in. (61 x 73.7 cm)
Edition of 16 BOU-0398
$38,000
Pleaseinquire
StormatSaintHonore, 1994
Engraving and dry point, on smooth wove paper 24 ½ x 35 13/16 in (62 x 91 cm)
Edition of 100 BOU-0399
$20,000
Pleaseinquire
TheFragile, 2007
A suite of 36 archival dyes on hand sewn natural cotton cloth panels with additional hand painting
Each 12 x 10 inches (30 x 25 cm)
Embroidered “LB” on last panel
Signed, titled and numbered, verso of last panel
Edition of 7 plus 3 AP unique variant sets
This is set AP3/3
Published by Carolina Nitsch
BOU-0153
Untitled, 2008
Drypoint on cloth with fabric collage
31 ¾ x 25 ¼ x 2 in. (80.6 x 64.1 x 5.1 cm)
Embroidered LB
Unique BOU-0393
$275,000
Pleaseinquire
MonDieu,MonDieu, quelesilenceestbeau, 2006
Watercolor, etching, and pencil on music paper
11 ¼ x 32 in. (28.6 x 81.3 cm)
signed and numbered
Edition of 17 unique variants
BOU-0392
YouareMyPolarStar, 2009
Woven fabric and archival dyes on fabric with embroidered text 33 ¾ x 46 ½ in. (85.7 x 118.1 cm.)
Embroidered LB
Unique BOU-0295
$425,000
Pleaseinquire
Whatistheshapeofthisproblem?,1999
Suite of 18 prints (9 diptychs), letterpress and lithography
Each 12 x 17 in. (30.5 x 43.2 cm)
Each sheet initialed and numbered Edition of 25
BOU-0394
The Hours of the Day is a chronological sequence of 24 page-spreads with text on one side and a sequential clock on the other. The text comes from Bourgeois’s daybooks, which she used for appointments and annotated with short texts and drawings. Themes of time and memory have been a consistent presence in the work of Louise Bourgeois, though her forms and materials have varied over the past seven decades; as she once stated ‘I travel in time, not in space’. Hours of the Day is a continuation of Bourgeois’ engagement with the passage of time. The installation comprises a series of printed individual fabric panels in which Bourgeois juxtaposes each hour with text written by her.
Being a chronic sufferer of insomnia, Bourgeois is acutely aware of her sensations and surroundings, these only magnified during the long, lonely hours of the night. The passing of time, her memories, the qualities of changing light and ambient sounds are registered in Hours of the Day coupled with her captivating words. The recall of memories is inherently conflicted for Bourgeois – the fear of losing her memories – as well as her desire to forget painful experiences to achieve a place of peace.
HoursoftheDay , 2006
Suite of 25 natural cotton cloth panels
printed with archival dyes
Each: 17 ¼ x 27 in. (44.5 x 68.6 cm)
Edition of 7, signed and numbered
Published by Carolina Nitsch
BOU-0139
SOLD
TheTickingClock, 2007
Archival dyes printed on stitched fabric with wood collage, sewn to linen embroidered LB 48 ¼ x 36 1/8 in. (122.6 x 91.8 cm)
Unique BOU-0304
$750,000 Pleaseinquire
TheFamily, 2007
Archival dyes on linen
17 ½ x 13 in. (44.4 x 33 cm)
Embroidered lower right LB, numbered verso
Edition of 9
Published by Carolina Nitsch
BOU-0213
SOLD
TheReticentChild, 2008
Suite of three drypoint etchings
with hand coloring on Hahnemuhle
Copperplate bright white paper
Each 17 x 15 in. (43.18 x 38.1 cm)
Edition of 8 unique variant sets
BOU-0243
$85,000
Pleaseinquire
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 screenprinted text, titled "She Lost It." The text comprises a self-authored parable. 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.
Couples, 2001
Color lithograph on Arches paper
44 x 26 in. (112 x 66 cm)
Initialed, numbered, dated
Edition of 100, 25 AP
BOU-0002
$16,000
Pleaseinquire
ThePuritan, 1990
Illustrated book of 8 engravings, with chine
colléon Smooth, wove, handmade
Twinrocker paper, with Japan Gampi chine collé
Page: each 26 × 19 11/16 in. (66 × 50 cm),
Plate sizes vary throughout
Signed on colophon page in pencil
Edition of 63 (25 volumes with hand additions; 38 volumes without hand additions)
BOU-0006
$15,000
Pleaseinquire
Topiary:TheArtofImprovingNature, 1998
Suite of nine copperplate etchings with dry point and color aquatint on Magnani Incisione paper, and one colophon page, in silk covered portfolio
Paper: 27 ¾ x 39 ¼ in. (70.5 x 99.7 cm)
Edition of 28
BOU-0007
$95,000
Pleaseinquire
Topiary:Amputee, 1998
Copperplate etchings with dry point and color aquatint on Magnani Incisione paper
Paper: 27 ¾ x 39 ¼ in. (70.5 x 99.7 cm)
Edition of 28
BOU-0069
$12,000
Pleaseinquire
Topiary:AmputeewithPegLeg, 1998
Copperplate etchings with dry point and color aquatint on Magnani Incisione paper
Paper: 27 ¾ x 39 ¼ in. (70.5 x 99.7
Edition of 28
BOU-0025
$12,000
Pleaseinquire
cm)
Topiary:AmputeewithCrutch, 1998
Copperplate etchings with dry point and color aquatint on Magnani Incisione paper
Paper: 27 ¾ x 39 ¼ in. (70.5 x 99.7 cm)
Edition of 28
BOU-0026
$12,000
Pleaseinquire
ThePuritan(handpaintedbound), 1991-97
Deluxe artist book with 8 engravings with chine-collé, each with additions in watercolor and gouache, and 8 text pages, handbound, in cloth covered Solander box 29 x 20 x 3 in. (73.66 x 50.8 x 7.62 cm)
Signed and numbered
Edition of 25 BOU-0017
$60,000
Pleaseinquire
HeDisappearedintoCompleteSilence, 1947-2005
Suite of eleven engravings with hand coloring; original text pages and colophon printed in 1947, in cloth bound folio
Signed and numbered on colophon page
Each print initialed LB in pencil
Each: 10 x 14 in. (25.4 x 35.6 cm)
Edition of 30
BOU-0116
$150,000
Pleaseinquire
BlackArcs, 2005
Etching, gouache, ink on paper
Signed
19 ¾ x 58 in. (49 x 148 cm)
Unique BOU-0098
$165,0000
Pleaseinquire
PregnantCaryatid, 2001
Color lithograph on Okawara paper
29 x 20 ½ in. (73.66 x 52.07 cm)
Signed and dated lower right, numbered lower left Edition of 10 BOU-0141
$10,000
Pleaseinquire
EightinBed, 2000
Color lithograph and embossing on paper
20 ⅝ x 23 ½ in. (52.3 x 59.6 cm.)
Initialed and numbered
Edition of 40
BOU-0142
$7,500
Pleaseinquire
RecueildesSecretsdeLouiseBourgeois, 2005
Color offset with blind embossing, plus etching "Be Calm" with saddle stitched artist book. Cover designed by the artist. All housed in a leather cassette with gold embossing
Initialed and numbered 8 x 3 ¼ in. (20.32 x 8.26 cm)
Edition of 40 BOU-0145
$12,000
Pleaseinquire
OdealaBievre-limitededition, 2007
Clothbound book with 25 color facsimiles, accompanied by two loose photographs
The garden of Anthony 1921 and The Bievre River 1951, each initialed and numbered verso, printed on Verona paper, in slipcase, book also signed and numbered 11 ½ x 16 in. (30 x 40.6 cm)
Edition of 95
BOU-0148
$7,000
Pleaseinquire
MotherandChildII, 2007
Silkscreen on linen, embroidered LB
77 x 42 in. (195.6 x 106.7 cm)
Signed and numbered verso
Edition of 7
Published by Carolina Nitsch and Lison
BOU-0150
SOLD
FeatherThoughts, 2006
Dry point in sepia on cloth
10 x 7 in. (25.4 x 17.8 cm)
Embroidered LB, numbered verso Edition of 15 BOU-0173
SOLD
TheBadGirl, 2008
Suite of five screen prints on linen
Each embroidered LB
Each: 16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)
Numbered verso
Edition of 12
Published by Carolina Nitsch
BOU-0181
$75,000
Pleaseinquire
TheMaternalMan, 2008
Archival dyes on fabric with unhemmed edges
48 x 32 ½ in. (121.9 x 82.6 cm)
signed in pencil LB lower right
Numbered verso
Published by Carolina Nitsch
Edition of 12
BOU-0185
$135,000
Pleaseinquire
LeLitGrosÉdredon(withlips), 1997
Soft ground etching, aquatint, dry point, engraving, and roulette on Somerset paper
25 1/16 x 31 ½ in. (63.6 x 80 cm)
Signed: "Louise Bourgeois 1997"
Edition 100
BOU-0187
$24,000
Pleaseinquire
Bed, 1997
Soft ground etching, drypoint, and engraving on smooth wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered
16¼ x 19½ in (41.4 x 49.53 cm)
Edition 100 BOU-0332
$10,000
Pleaseinquire
IamAfraid, 2009
Woven cotton on padded cotton
43 ½ x 72 in. (110.5 x 183 cm)
Embroidered LB, numbered verso
Edition of 15
Published by Carolina Nitsch
BOU-0200
$225,000
Pleaseinquire
ILoveYou 2007
Dry point on music paper, red ink
12 x 9 in. (30.5 x 22.9 cm)
Numbered and initialed Edition of 175 BOU-0203
SOLD
HomelyGirl:ALifebyArthurMiller, 1992
Deluxe leather bound two volume book in slipcase, text by ArthurMiller, ten etchings and 8 lithos by LB 12 x 9 1/8 in. (30.5 x 23.2 cm)
Signed by both, numbered
Edition of 100
BOU-0236
$9,500
Pleaseinquire
Bourgeois frequently returned to the image of Sainte Sebastienne in twodimensional form. Like many of her prints, this work originated as a drawing completed earlier in her career, evolving through several states before she arrived at the final print. The totemic female figure is peppered with schematic arrows, some indenting her woodlike flesh while others simply point to parts of her body, like an acupuncture diagram or a schema for a drastic cosmetic procedure. By redressing the Christian martyr St. Sebastian as a female, Bourgeois plays with the notion of pain and suffering, punning on the different types of anguish both physical and emotional that many women silently endure.
SainteSebastienne, 1992
Dry point on Somerset Satin paper
47 x 37 in. (120.5 x 94 cm)
Signed and numbered
Edition of 50
BOU-0246
$45,000
Pleaseinquire
SelfPortrait(Desire), 2009
Dry point on vintage cloth
15 ½ x 12 ½ in. (39.37 x 31.75 cm)
Embroidered LB lower right, numbered verso
Edition of 5 variants
BOU-0267
$25,000
Pleaseinquire
SelfPortrait(Birth), 2009
Dry point on cloth
15 ½ x 12 ½ in. (39.37 x 31.75 cm)
Embroidered LB lower right, numbered verso
Edition of 5 variants
BOU-0269
$25,000
Pleaseinquire
SelfPortrait(Birth), 2009
Dry point on cloth
15 ½ x 12 ½ in. (39.37 x 31.75 cm)
Embroidered LB lower right, numbered verso
Edition of 5 variants
BOU-0270
$25,000
Pleaseinquire
LePereetles3Fils, 1999
Lithograph with embossing and pastel on paper 24 x 13 in. (61 x 33 cm)
Initialed lower right, numbered lower left BOU-0273
$10,000
Pleaseinquire
TheHourisDevotedtoRevenge (from:WhatistheShapeofthisproblem?), 1999
Diptych: Lithograph and letterpress on paper in two parts
Each: 12 x 17 in. (30.48 x 43.18 cm)
Initialed lower right, numbered
Edition of 25
BOU-0274
$12,000
Pleaseinquire
TheLawsofNature, 2003
Suite of five dry points on paper with title and colophon page,and an essay by Paulo Herkenhoff, in portfolio box
Each 9 x 9 ½ in. (22.86 x 24.13 cm)
Each signed and dated lower right, numbered lower left
Edition of 20
BOU-0278
$25,000
Pleaseinquire
SpiralingArrows, 2004
Engraving on paper
18 x 24 in. (45.72 x 60.96 cm)
Signed and dated lower right, numbered lower left
Edition of 25 BOU-0280
$15,000
Pleaseinquire
Untitled(Insomnia), 2000
Dry-point and spit-bite on paper
Signed, dated, numbered 18 x 15 in. (45.72 x 38.10 cm)
Edition of 7 BOU-0281
$22,000
Pleaseinquire
Caryatid, 2001
Color lithograph on vintage cloth
35 ¾ x 32 ¼ in. (90.81 x 81.92 cm)
Embroidered LB
Edition of 13 unique variants
BOU-0283
$45,000
Pleaseinquire
SaturdayMorning, 2003-09
Dry point on paper
10 x 14 ¼ in. (25.4 x 36.2 cm)
Initialed lower right, numbered lower left
Edition of 8
BOU-0285
$8,500
Pleaseinquire
HaveyousavedaSoulToday?, 2009
Color silkscreen on paper
13 x 17 in. (33.02 x 43.18 cm)
Initialed lower right, numbered lower left Edition of 30 variants
BOU-0290
$20,000
Pleaseinquire
ThePuritanSuite(#3),
Gouache, watercolor, etching, Chine-collé, letterpress on handmade paper, in eight parts
Each signed lower right
Each: 25 ½ x 60 in. (64.8 x 152.4 cm)
Edition of 12 unique variant sets
BOU-0298
$400,000
Pleaseinquire
1997-2003
TheSmile(deconstructionofthefather), 2001
Dry point etching on paper, 6 1/16 x 8 5/8 in. (15.5 x 22 cm)
Signed, dated, numbered in pencil
Edition of 50 BOU-0299
$8,500
Pleaseinquire
TheSmile(cloth), 2001
Lithograph printed in red on cloth
LB lower right; numbered verso 11 ¾ x 9 ¾ in. (29.8 x 24.8 cm)
Edition of 40 BOU-0301
$12,000
Pleaseinquire
Horseshoe, 2003
Engraving in red on paper
Signed, dated, numbered in pencil 12 x 9 ½ in. (30.48 x 24.13 cm)
Edition of 74 BOU-0302 SOLD
PinkDays, 2008
Pink Days (BOUR-13108), 2008
Silkscreen on paper
8 ½ x 11 in. (21.6 x 27.9 cm)
Initialed and numbered in pencil
Edition of 175 BOU-0312
$8,500
Pleaseinquire
FatherandSon, 2004
Dry point on paper
14 x 10 ½ in. (35.6 x 26.7 cm.)
Plate: 10 ¾ x 9 ¾ in. (27.3 x 24.8 cm)
Inscribed along bottom:
To Rosamond and John / with love /
Louise Bourgeois / LB / 2004
Trial Proof (never editioned)
BOU-0320
SOLD
TriptychfortheRedRoom,1994
Aquatint, dry-point and engraving on paper, triptych
Overall: 27 ¾ x 111 ¾ in. (70.5 x 283.8 cm.)
Each signed and numbered
Edition of 30
BOU-0323
$42,000
Pleaseinquire
LaPetitePouseeII, 2005
Etching on paper mounted on paper
Signed and numbered
19 1/2 x 14 in. (49.5 x 35.6 cm)
Edition of 25
BOU-0324
$24,000
Pleaseinquire
PregnantWoman, 2009
Archival dyes on collaged cloth
23 ¾ x 19 ¾ in. (60.3 x 50.2 cm)
Embroidered LB
Unique
BOU-0329
SOLD
Couple, 2009
Archival dyes on collaged cloth
23 ½ x 35 ½ in. (59.7 x 90.2 cm)
Embroidered LB
Unique BOU-0330
$175,000
Pleaseinquire
Reparation, 1991
Printed and hand colored paper, hand torn, pierced, and sewn with thread on smooth, wove Lana Gravure and Arches paper
bound in Parkett # 27 magazine
10 x 8 ¼ in. (25.4 x 21 cm)
Signed and numbered in pencil
Edition of 75; plus 20 A.P.
BOU-0336
$4,500
Pleaseinquire
WeLoveYou, 2005
Welded steel wall plaque
3 3/8 x 5 3/8 in. (8.6 x 13.7 cm.)
Stamped lower right: LB
Edition of 6
BOU-0340
$25,000
Pleaseinquire
FabricationI, 1989-1994
Lithograph, with collage, and white and red gouache additions on smooth, wove Fabriano paper. sheet: 11 x 8 ½ in. (28 x 21.6 cm)
Signature: "Louise Bourgeois" lower right sheet Edition of 40
BOU-0343
SOLD
MirrorfortheRedRoom, 1996
Lithograph in red on wove paper
Signed and numbered in pencil
25 x 19 ½ in. (63.5 x 49.53 cm)
Edition of 25
Publisher: Fundaçao Bienal de São Paulo
BOU-0354
SOLD
TheMaternalMan, 2008
Archival dyes on cloth
10 ½ x 8 in. (26.7 x 20.3 cm)
Embroidered LB Edition of 33 BOU-0355
$20,000
Pleaseinquire
UnawareandAware, 1997-2003
Etching and watercolor on paper
35 x 24 in. (88.9 x 61 cm)
Study 7/7 (a print edition of 3 in black ink and 3 in red ink, plus 7 hand painted Studies, and the "One's Sleep" book edition of 9 bound and 3 unbound)
BOU-0363
$75,000
Pleaseinquire
FallenWoman, 1996
Porcelain, blue and gold
3 ¼ x 12 x 3 in. (8.3 x 30.5 x 7.6 cm.)
Incised and numbered
Edition of 25
BOU-0365 SOLD
HeDisappearedintoCompleteSilence, 1946-47
Unique engraving and dry point, inscribed "plate" 10 x 6 5/8 in. (25.4 x 16.8 cm)
Alternative plate- State V of VI
MoMA #998.1/V; W & S 38
BOU-0366
$45,000
Pleaseinquire
TheSky'stheLimit , 1989-2003
Etching with watercolor and gouache on handmade paper
41 ½ x 8 ¼ in. (105.4 x 21 cm)
Edition of 20 unique variants
Signed lower right, inscribed "painted study verso 13/20" verso
BOU-0389
$115,000
Pleaseinquire
SidebySide, 1989-2003
Etching with watercolor and gouache on paper
23 3/8 x 13 ½ in. (59.4 x 34.3 cm)
Edition of 10 unique variants
Signed lower right; inscribed verso
"Side by Side hand painted study 2/10"
BOU-0367
$48,000
Pleaseinquire
Progression, 1990
Engraving, with selective wiping, and chine collé on smooth, wove Arches paper
Plate: 16 13/16 x 10 7/8 in. (42.7 x 27.7 cm)
Sheet: 26 x 19 5/8 in. (66 x 49.9 cm)
Edition of 27
Cat Rais. No. 549.2
BOU-0376
$15,000
Pleaseinquire
Anatomy, 1989-1990
Portfolio with 12 compositions: 10 dry points, 1 etching, and 1 multiple of paper and garter On smooth, wove paper
Portfolio: 26 × 18 7/8 × 1 5/16 in. (66 × 48 × 3.3 cm)
Plate and sheet sizes vary throughout.
Signature: "LB." or "LB" right lower margin each sheet, pencil. Edition of 44
BOU-0377
$65,000 Pleaseinquire
Untitled, 2002
Screen-print with cutout on vintage fabric 9 x 10 ¼ in. (22.9 x 26 cm.)
Edition #2/3
BOU-0384
SOLD
Untitled, 2002
Screen-print on vintage fabric 12 x 11 in. (30.5 x 27.9 cm.)
Edition #4/5
BOU-0385
SOLD
Untitled, 2002
Screen-print on vintage fabric
17 x 13 ¼ in. (43.2 x 33.7 cm.)
Ed. #4/4
BOU-0386
$45,000
Pleaseinquire
Untitled, 2002
Screen-print on vintage fabric
10 ¼ x 12 ½ in. (26 x 31.8 cm.)
Ed. #TP
BOU-0388
$45,000
Pleaseinquire
BabyandButterfly, 2007
Engraving and dry point on vintage paper and collaged cloth 12 x 9 ½ in. (30.5 x 24.1 cm)
Signed and numbered Edition of 15 BOU-0391
SOLD
EYES, 2004
Watercolor, etching, gouache and colored pencil on paper
9-7/8 x 12-5/8 inches (25.1 x 32.1 cm)
Series of 19 handpainted studies, this I study #13/19
Signed lower right, numbered verso.