Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Curare
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Curare is a 2012 woodcut on paper by Damien Hirst, published by Other Criteria in an edition of 55. A tight 46.2 x 46.2 cm square, it renders the spot motif through carved wood blocks, giving the colour spots the texture and physicality of relief printing. Named after the well-known plant-derived toxin, the print is signed and numbered.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 55. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
Curare pairs the spot motif with the name of a famous natural poison, and realizes it in the rarer woodcut medium. The relief process distinguishes it sharply from Hirst's glazed silkscreens, and the edition of 55 makes it genuinely scarce. Its perfect square format and evocative title give it a concentrated presence within the spot series.
Collector Perspective
The 55-impression edition and woodcut medium make Curare a rarer, process-driven spot print prized by printmaking collectors. Its compact square suits close viewing and grouped displays. Confirm the signature and numbering, and look for the tactile impression of the wood block in the paper. The evocative title adds narrative appeal to the piece.
Historical Context
Since 1988, Hirst's spots have followed the rule that no colour repeats within a work. Alongside the silkscreens, Other Criteria issued spot editions as woodcuts, a traditional relief technique that carries the grain of carved blocks into the print. Curare, named for a paralyzing plant toxin, continues the naming convention that ties the spots to science, medicine, and mortality.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2012
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Woodcut; catalog dimensions 46.2 x 46.2 cm; Wood block print on paper.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 55.
- 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 Damien Hirst'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: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Since 1988, Hirst's spots have followed the rule that no colour repeats within a work. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2012 and attributes the edition to Other Criteria.
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 Other Criteria. 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.
- Damien Hirst — official site — Damien Hirst studio (Science Ltd.) · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Damien Hirst — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Damien Hirst (Q294326) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
What medium is Curare?
It is a woodcut, a relief-print process, printed on paper rather than silkscreened.
How large is the edition?
Curare was issued in an edition of 55, each signed and numbered.
What does the title refer to?
Curare is a plant-derived toxin historically used as a poison; Hirst titles spot works after chemical and natural substances.
What are its dimensions?
It is a square print measuring 46.2 x 46.2 cm.
