Tête (Head)
Sculpture, Soft Sculpture on base • Louise Bourgeois
Style & Movement
Contemporary Art / Surrealism (Post-Surrealist Fabric Works)
Medium & Technique
Hand-sewn fabric, tapestry, and thread; construction involves patchwork, embroidery, and stuffing over a supporting internal armature
Creation Period
circa 2000-2005
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 to 15 inches (30-38 cm) in height including base; Portrait format
Subject Description
A portrait head constructed from colorful scraps of fabric. The face features a spiral-like or topographical arrangement of red, blue, and white fabric segments. The work evokes themes of memory, domesticity, repair, and the fragmentation of the self. The choice of material relates to the artist's childhood with parents who were tapestry restorers.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the fabric appears intact with no visible fraying or significant fading in the photograph
Estimated Market Value
$600,000 - $900,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$500,000 - $800,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired via Cheim & Read (New York) or Hauser & Wirth, who represent the Louise Bourgeois Estate; part of a series of fabric heads created in the artist's final decade.
Art Historical Significance
Crucial part of Bourgeois's late-career pivot to soft sculpture. These 'heads' represent a psychological reconciliation with her past, using the medium of her family's trade (textiles) to explore the fragility and complexity of human identity.
Notable Features
Features the signature spiral motif often seen in Bourgeois's work; the use of variegated grey fabric for the 'hair' contrasts sharply with the vibrant, geometric layout of the face.
Condition Issues
Fabric sculptures are susceptible to UV light degradation, moth damage, and internal structural settling. No specific damage noted from the provided image.
Conservation Recommendations
Keep in a climate-controlled environment with low UV light exposure. Ensure the sculpture is display-cased to prevent dust accumulation and pest ingress.
Collector Notes
Louise bourgeois