Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Esculetin
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Esculetin is a 2012 woodcut spot print from Manifold Editions, produced in an edition of 55 and printed on 410gsm Somerset White Paper. A two-inch landscape-format spot work at roughly 47 x 56 cm, it is described as a sister print to the popular Benzyloxyurea, closing out Manifold's woodcut spot series for that retrospective year.
Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 55. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The woodcut spots are notable because Hirst's spot paintings were made through a collaborative studio process, whereas here the imagery is translated into the demanding, hand-cut discipline of the woodblock. Each print is signed on the front and numbered on the reverse, and the edition of just 55 makes these among the more contained spot editions in Hirst's output.
Collector Perspective
At 55 copies, this sits well below Hirst's large spot editions and appeals to collectors who value the tactile relief of woodcut over flat screenprint. The named-pharmaceutical title anchors it to the Pharmacology strand of his work. Front signature plus verso numbering is the correct configuration; confirm both are present and that the heavyweight Somerset sheet is clean.
Historical Context
Hirst's spots reference families of pharmacological compounds, reflecting his long-documented fascination with medicine's attempt to control and arrest bodily decay. Manifold Editions released a run of woodcut spot editions across that retrospective year, with Esculetin, Fenbufen and Maltohexaose named as the final three, situating it within a deliberate, sequential body of woodcut work.
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 47 x 56 cm; Manifold Editions has released a number of new editions of Hirst's woodcut spot prints over this retrospective year and now offers the last three in the series, consisting of a 2-inch landscape Esculetin, sister to the very popular Benzyloxyuea, and two 6-inch four spots Fenbufen and Maltohexaose; At one level the spots are vibrant essays in pure colour, at another they also reference families of pharmacological drugs, an aspect of Hirst's well-documented obsession with medicine's attempts to control and arrest bodily decay; An 2-inch spot woodcut, printed on 410gsm Somerset White Paper, published by The Paragon Press in 2012. Sheet size 47 x 56cm.
- Edition details
- First Edition; saved release record states an edition size 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: 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 Manifold Editions. The saved description also notes: Manifold Editions has released a number of new editions of Hirst's woodcut spot prints over this retrospective year and now offers the last three in the series, consisting of a 2-inch landscape Esculetin, sister to the very popular Benzyloxyuea, and two 6-inch four spots Fenbufen and Maltohexaose.
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 Manifold Editions. 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 size spot is Esculetin?
It is a two-inch spot woodcut in landscape format, with a sheet measuring approximately 47 x 56 cm.
How is it signed and numbered?
Each print in the series is signed on the front and numbered on the reverse, in an edition of 55.
What paper is used?
It is printed on 410gsm Somerset White Paper, a heavyweight archival cotton stock.
How does it relate to other prints in the series?
It is described as a sister print to Benzyloxyurea and is one of the final woodcut spots Manifold released, alongside Fenbufen and Maltohexaose.
