Lyle Ashton Harris, Lothar Osterburg, and others

Je ne Sais Quoi #5

2003

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Je ne Sais Quoi #5

2003

Physical Qualities Photogravure, Image: 175 × 140 mm. (6 7/8 × 5 1/2 in.) Sheet: 356 × 279 mm. (14 × 11 in.)

Credit Line Women's Committee Acquisitions Endowment for Contemporary Prints and Photographs

Object Number 2024.225

The Baltimore Museum of Art by purchase, 2024; Krakow Witkin Gallery, New York

Inscribed: RECTO: Below lower-left corner of image in graphite, "18/30"; below lower-right corner of image in graphite, "Lyle Ashton Harris '04" [artist's signature] VERSO: Upper-left corner in graphite, "35498"

Artist

Lyle Ashton Harris

1964–2000

born New York, NY 1965

Meet Lyle Ashton Harris

Printer

Lothar Osterburg

2000–2000

Meet Lothar Osterburg

Publisher

MS Editions, New York

2000–2000

Meet MS Editions, New York

Explore the Collection Further

BY SAME ARTIST

PRINTS, DRAWINGS & PHOTOGRAPHS

THE ANT. THE TWO-LEGGED ANT, JUST LIKE THE MULTI-LEGGED ONE IS NOT GENEROUS, BUT THAT IS THE LEAST ONE CAN REPROACH HIM. THERE IS ONE DIFFERENCE THOUGH: THE FORMER IS SAVING IN EVERY SEASON AND NEVER CONSUMES, EVEN AT THE AGE OF 90 HE STILL ECONOMISES FOR HIS OLD DAYS. THIS TYPE OF ANT LEADS ALWAYS A MISERABLE LIFE. WHEN HE DIES, HE IS DEPRIVED OF EVERYTHING DESPITE OF THE PROVISIONS, BECAUSE HIS LAST SAVINGS ARE SPENT FOR HIS FUNERAL.

Honoré Daumier

La fourmi. La fourmi bipède, de même que la fourmi multi-patter n’est pas prèteuse, c’est là son moindre défaut. Il y a toutefois cette différence que la première épargne, épargne en toute saison et ne consomme jamais, même à 90 ans elle économise encore pour ses vieux jours. Cette espèce de fourmi mène constament une vie misérable et toute de privation. elle finit par mourir, fort dépourvue, quoi qu’abondament pourvue d’ailleurs, en ordonnant une dernière épargne, celle de ses funérailles.

1837