Spider Woman

Louise Bourgeois American
Publisher Harlan & Weaver, Inc. American
Printer Harlan & Weaver, Inc. American

Not on view

Throughout her long career, Bourgeois treated the motif of spiders across many different media, from drawings and prints to monumental outdoor sculpture. The theme was initially associated with her mother, a tapestry restorer, but grew to take on broader associations as a strong female protector against evil. This example, dating from the last decade of the artist’s life, represents a female spider with a human face, contained within an egg-shaped form. The vibrant scarlet ink is a color Bourgeois favored in her late work.

Spider Woman, Louise Bourgeois (American, Paris 1911–2010 New York), Drypoint

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