Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Doxylamine
Summary
Doxylamine is a 2007 spot etching, 82 x 94 cm, published by Paragon Press in an edition of 75. Notable among the pharmaceutical etchings, it required printing from two plates because the tight spacing between spots left no room to ink a single plate efficiently, a technical detail that reveals the craft behind the deceptively simple image.
Why It Matters
The two-plate solution makes Doxylamine a case study in the difficulty of translating Hirst's precise spot grid into etching. That physical challenge, paired with an edition of only 75, gives the print both technical interest and scarcity within the Pharmaceutical series.
Collector Perspective
Signed on the front and numbered on the reverse, the edition of 75 is small by Hirst standards. Collectors drawn to the making of prints will value the documented two-plate process; condition of the crisp registration between plates is worth examining closely.
Historical Context
Titled after a sedating antihistamine, Doxylamine continues Hirst's practice of naming spots after chemical compounds, a systematic conceit that turns the pharmacy shelf into a color chart. The 2007 etchings brought this taxonomy into the labor-intensive world of intaglio printing.
FAQ
Why was Doxylamine printed from two plates?
The spots sat too close together to ink one plate efficiently, so alternating spots were split across two plates.
What is the edition size?
It was published in an edition of 75 by Paragon Press in 2007.
What does the title refer to?
Doxylamine is a sedating antihistamine, in keeping with Hirst's chemical-compound titling.
How is it signed?
Signed by the artist on the front and numbered on the reverse.
About the Artist
Damien Hirst (born 1965, Bristol) is a British artist and the most prominent figure of the Young British Artists (YBAs). Rising to fame in the late 1980s and 1990s, he built a practice around mortality, science, religion, and beauty — from formaldehyde-preserved animals to his Spot, Spin, and Butterfly (Kaleidoscope) series. Hirst is also one of the most prolific printmakers in contemporary art, releasing extensive signed editions through his own science-led studio and, more recently, the HENI imprint. His work has commanded record prices and defined the market for blue-chip contemporary editions.
Collecting Damien Hirst at Gauntlet Gallery
Which Damien Hirst prints should I collect?
Signed, numbered editions from his signature series — Spots, Butterflies/Kaleidoscope, Spins, Cherry Blossoms, and skull works — are the collectible core. Look for strong condition and the artist's pencil signature. Gauntlet Gallery prioritizes complete, well-documented impressions.
How is a Hirst print authenticated?
We sell Hirst works with documented provenance and the edition's signature and numbering; many carry HENI or studio documentation. Each piece is photographed exactly as it ships, including signature and edition details.
What drives value?
Series and image (iconic Spots and Butterflies lead), edition size, format and scale, condition, and provenance all drive value. Hand-signed, low-numbered, and diamond-dust or foilblock works command premiums.