The Winged Figure

1948, cast 1991

Louise Bourgeois

Sculptor, American, born France, 1911 - 2010

This tall, abstract, bronze, free-standing sculpture is made up of five thin, elongated geometric shapes stacked vertically. The surface of the bronze is dark, pewter gray, and it is photographed against a lighter gray background. The sculpture stands on a square, plate-like, silver-colored base. Starting at the bottom, the first section is a tall, narrow, rectangular column with a pitted surface and irregular edges, as if the corners had been hammered. The next vertical section is a slender, smooth, leaf-shaped object that swells at the top and tapers to a point where it meets the column below. A wide, narrow sliver balances horizontally across the leaf-like object, and it tapers to points to our left and right. Above, a vertical capsule-shaped form is painted with two small, vertical, wavy lines in white. Finally, another horizontal form with a hammered surface tops the structure. It is pinched at the center and swells slightly to either side before tapering to points. The leaf form and capsule shapes are about the same height. The topmost horizontal piece is slightly wider than the lower one.
This object’s media is not available for download. Contact us about image usage.
On View

NGA, East Building, EU-405, STAIRWELL


Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Louise Bourgeois

  • Dimensions

    overall: 179.1 x 95.3 x 30.5 cm (70 1/2 x 37 1/2 x 12 in.)

  • Accession

    1992.101.1


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Louise Bourgeois, New York; gift 1992 to NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1950

  • Louise Bourgeois: Sculptures, Peridot Gallery, New York, 1950 (wood maquette exhibited).

2011

  • The Colour of My Dreams: The Surrealist Revolution in Art, Vancouver Art Gallery, 2011, unnumbered catalogue.

Inscriptions

lower rear: L.B. / 2/6 / (stamp of the Modern Art Foundry, Astoria, New York) / 1991

Markings

FM: Modern Art Foundry [Astoria, New York]

Wikidata ID

Q63860948


You may be interested in

Loading Results