Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Manganese Chloride
Summary
Manganese Chloride is a 2012 woodcut from Manifold Editions, printed with one-inch spots across a compact 5 x 5 inch sheet. As a First Edition example, it renders Hirst's spot grid at small scale, letting the woodcut's grain and ink texture read clearly against the tight arrangement of miniature colour dots.
Why It Matters
The small format and one-inch spots make Manganese Chloride an intimate entry in the Manifold woodcut series. Where the spots were designed to feel industrial and endless, the woodcut process and reduced size reassert the hand and the individual sheet, turning a system built on repetition into a singular, tactile object.
Collector Perspective
At 5 x 5 inches it is one of the more approachable footprints in the series, well suited to intimate wall groupings or a first Hirst acquisition. The edition of 55 keeps it scarce without being rarefied. As with all Manifold woodcuts, verify signature and numbering and keep the publisher documentation intact for provenance.
Historical Context
Named after the chemical compound Manganese Chloride, the work continues Hirst's decades-long habit of titling spots after substances from scientific catalogues. The 2012 Manifold woodcuts recast this conceptual series in a traditional relief medium, part of Hirst's broader restatement of the spots during a high-output period for the motif.
FAQ
How big are the spots?
The spots measure one inch across, arranged on a 5 x 5 inch sheet.
Is this a screenprint?
No, it is a woodcut, a relief process that gives the spots visible grain and ink texture.
What is the edition size?
It was published in an edition of 55 by Manifold Editions.
Why is it named Manganese Chloride?
Hirst names his spot works after chemical and pharmaceutical compounds; Manganese Chloride is one such substance.
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.