The artwork, titled “Give or Take,” was created by Louise Bourgeois in 2002 in the United States and belongs to the Confessional Art movement. It is a sculpture that poignantly expresses themes central to Bourgeois’ oeuvre.
The artwork consists of a bronze sculpture depicting an elongated arm. One hand is open and outstretched, as if offering something, while the other hand is clenched, suggesting a sense of withholding or tension. The detailed and realistic rendering of the arm highlights the tactile and expressive capabilities of human hands, embodying themes of offering and withholding, generosity and restraint. The sculptural piece captures the duality of human experience and emotion, fittingly exemplifying the introspective and personal nature of Confessional Art.
