Spider
Louise Bourgeois was among the most intriguing and influential artists in Contemporary art. She began her career as a painter, yet sculpture and installation work became her focus and strongest legacy. Biography and the relationships among family are frequently addressed in the artist’s work; Spider, one of her most iconic themes, is no exception. In tribute to her mother, who made a living repairing ancient tapestries, Bourgeois portrays spiders as clever, dainty and protective. The eggs described in the lower portion of the body emphasize the maternal symbolism of the sculpture.
Louise Bourgeois. Spider, 1997. Bronze, 94 x 96 x 84 inches. Gift of Fred and Lena Meijer. © The Easton Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADAGP, Paris.