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Louise
Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois explored themes related to sexuality, motherhood, and trauma through sculpture, painting, and printmaking, utilising techniques such as etching, lithography, and drypoint. If you’re looking for original Louise Bourgeois prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network’s most in-demand works.

Louise Bourgeois art for sale

Discover Louise Bourgeois prints for sale, exclusively available through our private network of collectors. Explore signed and unsigned screenprints, lithographs, digital prints, and rare editioned proof prints by era-defining blue chip artists.

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Biography

Louise Bourgeois was a renowned French American artist whose prolific career spanned over seven decades. Born in Paris in 1911, Bourgeois is best known for her large-scale sculptures and installations that powerfully explore themes of childhood memory, family, sexuality, desire, and the body. Although Bourgeois’ work is deeply personal, it resonates with a universal audience due to its evocative imagery and psychological intensity.

Louise Bourgeois' Early Life and Parisian Influences

Bourgeois grew up in a family that ran a business restoring antique tapestries, immersing her in the world of textiles. She studied mathematics at the Sorbonne but turned to art after her mother's death in 1932. Bourgeois attended various art schools, including the École des Beaux-Arts, the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, and the École du Louvre, where she encountered influential artists like Fernand Léger, Marcel Duchamp, and Constantin Brâncuși.

A towering 300 centimeter spider sculpture with eight limbs gracefully balanced on the floor, its front limb curled underneath.

Image © Sotheby's/ Spider © Louise Bourgeois 1996

1. £26.5M for Louise Bourgeois's Spider

Bourgeois' towering spider sculptures epitomise her iconic body of work, evoking both awe and unease with their conceptual design. Despite their imposing size, they offer a sense of shelter and elegance, captivating viewers. This particular sculpture, part of a limited edition, achieved £26.4 million at Sotheby's in May 2023, setting Bourgeois' auction record. Additional editions sold for £24.9 million at Christie's in May 2019 and £18.6 million, also at Christie's in November 2015. These staggering prices reflect the enduring international appeal of Bourgeois' art and the profound impact of her sculptural legacy.

A wall relief spider sculpture climbing upwards, its eight limbs spread out, with two on the left slightly curled inward, conveying a sense of movement.

Image © Sotheby's / Spider IV (蜘蛛 IV) © Louise Bourgeois 1996

2. £13.1M for Louise Bourgeois's Spider IV


Exuding a commanding presence akin to her towering sculptures, Spider IV (1996) embodies the unique allure of Bourgeois' artistry. Its intricate wall mount configuration animates the piece, with its extended, curved, and coiled limbs evoking a lifelike quality. Reflecting Bourgeois' recurring themes, this artwork achieved notable success at Sotheby's Hong Kong in April 2022, fetching an impressive £13.1 million (fees included). This marks a significant increase from its previous sale at Sotheby’s in November 2017, where it sold for £11.1 million (fees included). These sales secure Spider IV as Bourgeois' fourth and fifth highest-selling masterpieces, part of an edition of six plus one Artist Proof (AP).

A wall relief spider sculpture climbing upwards with a slight tilt, showcasing a dynamic movement. Its eight legs are evenly balanced on the surface.

Image © Christie's / Spider II © Louise Bourgeois 1995

3. £8.8M for Louise Bourgeois's Spider II

Bourgeois' Spider II (1995) demonstrated its enduring popularity with an impressive sale at Christie's in November 2017, fetching £8.7 million (fees included) and claiming its position as Bourgeois’ fifth highest-selling masterpiece. Unlike Spider IV (1996), this variation portrays the spider in a poised state, with all limbs fully extended, suggesting a frozen moment in time. This metaphorical suspension resonates with Bourgeois' recurring theme of memory, integral to her exploration of familial connections. Clinging to the wall with sinuous legs, Spider II captivates with its intricate form, prompting reflection and analysis as viewers engage with its profound symbolism.

A bronze polychrome sculpture with five slender totem-like structures rising from a base, delicately balanced on their tips. The sculpture exhibits blue concave crevices and elongated, phallic-like extensions protruding from the bottom of some of the totems.

Image © Seoul Auction / Quarantania © Louise Bourgeois 1947-1953