Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Gold Tears
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Gold Tears is a 2012 giclee by Damien Hirst using inkjet, glaze and foilblock on Hahnemühle photo rag ultra smooth 305gsm. Published in an edition of 55 by Paul Stolper and Other Criteria, it presents a 69.4 x 55.5 cm image on an 86.5 x 71 cm sheet in portrait orientation, 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
Gold Tears leans into the reflective potential of the foilblock process, its title signalling a gold-keyed palette that heightens the shimmer of the metallic surface. Set in a tall portrait format, the kaleidoscopic butterfly-wing composition reads like a luminous devotional panel, epitomising how Hirst fuses ornamental beauty with an undertone of loss.
Collector Perspective
The large portrait sheet and gold-toned foilblock give Gold Tears commanding presence, a strength for collectors seeking a centrepiece. Edition of 55 with Paul Stolper / Other Criteria provenance is well regarded. The reflective foil surface is condition-sensitive, verify signature and numbering and inspect closely for abrasion, scuffing or foil loss.
Historical Context
Gold Tears sits within Hirst's kaleidoscopic butterfly works, which draw on rose-window symmetry and religious ornament while foregrounding mortality. The lachrymose title and gilded palette sharpen the beauty-and-grief tension central to his practice, extending the memento-mori vocabulary that has defined his career since the early 1990s.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print
- Release date
- 2012
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Giclee Print; catalog dimensions 86.5 x 71 cm; Inkjet, glaze, and foilblock on Hahnemühle photo rag ultra smooth 305gsm.
- 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: 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 Other Criteria. The saved description also notes: Published by Paul Stolper & 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 the title suggest?
Gold Tears signals a gold-keyed palette; the metallic foilblock amplifies the shimmering, luminous surface.
What is the medium?
Inkjet giclee with glaze and foilblock on Hahnemühle photo rag ultra smooth 305gsm.
What is the edition size?
55, published by Paul Stolper and Other Criteria, signed and numbered.
What are the dimensions?
Image 69.4 x 55.5 cm; sheet 86.5 x 71 cm, in portrait orientation.
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