Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Life
Summary
Life (2009) is a signed and numbered etching from Damien Hirst's butterfly series, published by Other Criteria in an edition of 45. At 47.3 x 39.2 cm, its finely worked butterfly emerges from a black field like a mounted specimen, the title framing the motif within Hirst's ongoing meditation on vitality and mortality.
Why It Matters
Titled works in this series carry deliberate thematic weight, and Life anchors the optimistic pole of Hirst's butterfly vocabulary. It shows the artist working in restrained intaglio rather than his signature glossed color, a register that rewards close looking and situates a monumental theme at a collectable, domestic scale.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 45 keeps Life among the scarcer butterfly etchings. The Other Criteria imprint and the artist's signature and number provide provenance collectors expect from a Hirst edition. Because the etchings share a format but differ by title, Life also appeals to buyers assembling a thematic grouping across the series.
Historical Context
Issued in 2009 by Other Criteria, Life sits within a set of butterfly etchings whose titles span love, regeneration, freedom, spirituality and death. The butterfly's long history as a symbol, depicted in art and embedded in resin for centuries, underpins Hirst's reading of it as a natural emblem of transience.
FAQ
Is Life signed by the artist?
Yes, each impression is signed and numbered by Damien Hirst.
Who published Life?
It was published by Other Criteria, Hirst's own print imprint, in 2009.
How many were made?
The edition size is 45.
What does the butterfly symbolize in Hirst's work?
Across cultures the butterfly has signified love, regeneration, freedom, spirituality and death, themes Hirst references directly through his titles.
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.