Louise Bourgeois Extrême Tension Dessins et Gravures | Exhibition catalogue - BNF

Description

The Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Centre Pompidou are presenting an exhibition dedicated to the graphic work of Louise Bourgeois-a major figure in contemporary art who stood apart from the dominant movements of the 20th century-highlighting the interdependence of drawing and printmaking within her body of work.

After settling in New York in 1938, she discovered printmaking, a medium that, alongside drawing, would become essential to her entire oeuvre. In 1995, the Bibliothèque nationale de France received an exceptional donation from the artist comprising around one hundred plates spanning her entire career; this collection was subsequently enriched by regular donations from the Friends of the Library, resulting in holdings that now include over a hundred prints and eight artist's books. For its part, the Centre Pompidou holds 91 of her works (drawings, prints, sculptures, and installations). By bringing these two collections together for the first time, the exhibition sheds light on key themes related to the body in the artist's work.