Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Louise Bourgeois. It dates from 1993 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
This sketch shows a person sitting with their back to us, legs crossed, arms resting on their knees.
This sketch shows a person sitting with their back to us, legs crossed, arms resting on their knees. The lines are simple and loose, almost like a quick drawing. The paper is mostly blank, with just a small framed area holding the figure.
The artist signed it in the corner, noting it was drawn on the "wrong side of the paper" in 1993. That detail makes it feel more personal, like a sketch made in a hurry.
Next, check out Louise Bourgeois to see more of her work.
Overview
Created in 1993, this untitled drypoint print by Louise Bourgeois presents a solitary figure seated with its back to the viewer, legs crossed and arms resting on the knees. Rendered in loose, gestural lines, the image occupies a modest framed area on an otherwise empty sheet, emphasizing the intimacy of the sketch. The artist’s signature and a note indicating the work was drawn on the reverse side of the paper add a personal, informal quality.
Subject & Meaning
The seated figure evokes recurring concerns in Bourgeois’s oeuvre, such as the body’s relationship to memory, domestic space, and latent sexuality. By positioning the subject away from the viewer, the work invites contemplation of internal states and unconscious narratives, echoing the artist’s lifelong engagement with childhood experiences and psychological interiority.
Technique & Style
Executed as a drypoint, the print relies on incised lines that retain a soft, uneven quality, mirroring the immediacy of a quick drawing. Bourgeois’s handling of the medium foregrounds spontaneity over precision, allowing the paper’s texture to contribute to the overall atmosphere. The minimal compositional framing underscores the artist’s focus on gesture rather than detailed representation.
History & Provenance
The piece entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of 20th‑century printmaking. Its inclusion reflects MoMA’s broader commitment to documenting Bourgeois’s diverse practice, which spans sculpture, installation, painting, and print media.
Context
Although often linked to abstract expressionism, Bourgeois’s print work demonstrates her versatility across media. The 1990s marked a period of intensified exploration of personal narrative through smaller-scale works, contrasting with the monumental sculptures for which she is widely recognized. This print thus situates within a broader trajectory of intimate, process‑driven creations.
Artist & collection
Artist
Louise Joséphine Bourgeois (French: ; 25 December 1911 – 31 May 2010) was a French-American artist.
