Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Faile Print Index
Sub Rosa (In Black)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
"Sub Rosa (In Black)" is a hand-finished edition of 26, printed in acrylic and silkscreen ink on Lenox 100 paper at 25 x 38 inches. Signed, stamped, and numbered FAILE 2012, its Latin title, meaning "under the rose" or in secret, frames the black colorway with an air of concealment.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 26. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The small edition of 26 and large 38-inch format make this a scarce, imposing hand-worked print. The Latin phrase "sub rosa," historically a symbol of secrecy, lends conceptual depth beyond FAILE's usual pulp imagery, and the black colorway gives the composition a moody, graphic gravity that distinguishes it within the 2012 output.
Collector Perspective
Collectors value the low edition of 26 and the evocative sub rosa theme, which adds intellectual texture to the piece. The black treatment offers strong contrast and display impact at scale. Acrylic hand finishing individualizes each impression, and numbering out of 26 with the full FAILE mark makes authentication and comparison straightforward.
Historical Context
"Sub rosa" derives from antiquity, where the rose signified confidentiality, a motif FAILE repurposes within their symbol-laden visual language. This 2012 black edition continues the duo's habit of layering classical and religious references over vernacular imagery, using a compact hand-finished run to explore a single evocative theme.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2012
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print | Hand Finished; catalog dimensions 38 x 25 inches; Acrylic and Silkscreen Ink; Lenox 100 Paper.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 26.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Faile's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2012 and attributes the edition to Faile Shop.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Faile Shop. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- FAILE — official site — FAILE studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official studio site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- FAILE (artist collaboration) — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
FAQ
What does the title mean?
"Sub rosa" is Latin for "under the rose," historically meaning done in secret or confidence.
How large is the edition?
It is an edition of 26, hand-finished.
Which colorway is this?
This is the In Black version of the composition.
What are its dimensions?
The sheet measures 25 x 38 inches.
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