Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Emerge
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Emerge is a 2009 etching measuring 47.3 x 39.3 cm, published by Other Criteria in a signed and numbered edition of 45. Part of Hirst's butterfly etching series, it captures the insect in fine intaglio detail against a black background, resembling a preserved specimen in a naturalist's collection.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 45. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The title Emerge speaks directly to metamorphosis and new life, one of the butterfly's most hopeful symbolic registers. Rendered with the delicate precision of etching, the work distills Hirst's fascination with the boundary between the living and the preserved into a single, quietly powerful image.
Collector Perspective
With only 45 impressions and the demands of intaglio printing, Emerge is a scarcer, more craft-oriented Hirst edition. Its intimate scale and dark ground make it a versatile framing candidate. As with the full etching series, collectors value both the individual sheet and its coherence within the group; verify signature and plate quality.
Historical Context
Issued as one of Hirst's 2009 butterfly etchings by Other Criteria, Emerge draws on the butterfly's long heritage in art and literature as a symbol of transformation, spirituality, and death. It represents a refined addition to a motif that has defined Hirst's visual identity since his earliest exhibitions.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2009
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Etching; catalog dimensions 47.3 x 39.3 cm.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 45.
- 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: Issued as one of Hirst's 2009 butterfly etchings by Other Criteria, Emerge draws on the butterfly's long heritage in art and literature as a symbol of transformation, spirituality, and death. 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 2009 and attributes the edition to Other Criteria. The saved description also notes: Published by 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 does Emerge reference?
The title evokes metamorphosis and emergence into new life, echoing the butterfly's symbolism of transformation and regeneration.
What medium is it?
It is an etching, an intaglio process prized for fine detail and hand-drawn line quality.
How many were made?
It is a signed and numbered edition of 45, published by Other Criteria.
What are its dimensions?
The sheet measures 47.3 x 39.3 cm.
