Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Painting By Numbers (Blue)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Painting by Numbers (Blue) , 2001, is not a print but a multiple: a large canvas paired with 90 pots of blue enamel, 90 brushes and a cardboard support, issued by Eyestorm in an edition of 175. At 110 by 215 cm, it invites the owner to complete the work, collapsing the line between artist and audience.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 175. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The piece distils a core Hirst provocation: the artist as author versus the artist as assembler. By handing collectors the pigments and brushes to finish the canvas, Hirst tests where authorship actually resides. It sits within his long dialogue about industrial production, delegation and the readymade, wrapped in his instantly recognisable spot palette.
Collector Perspective
Condition and completeness define value here. Because the work ships as an interactive kit, the survival of all 90 enamels, all 90 brushes and the original packaging matters enormously. Unbuilt, sealed examples read differently from executed ones. Collectors should confirm the edition number, Eyestorm provenance and whether the canvas remains blank or has been painted.
Historical Context
Eyestorm was a pioneering online art publisher of the late 1990s and early 2000s, using the web to distribute editions by leading contemporary names. Hirst's 2001 multiples for the platform reflect that democratising moment, when digital commerce promised to widen access to blue-chip contemporary art beyond the traditional gallery circuit.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned sculpture / object
- Release date
- 2001
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Sculpture; catalog dimensions 215 x 110 cm.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 175.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering 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 2001 and attributes the edition to Eyestorm.
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 Eyestorm. 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
Is this a print?
No. Despite often being catalogued alongside prints, it is a sculptural multiple: a canvas issued with 90 enamel pots, 90 brushes and a cardboard element, meant to be assembled or painted by the owner.
How large is the edition?
It was published by Eyestorm in an edition of 175.
Does it matter if the canvas has been painted?
Yes. Whether an example remains blank with intact materials or has been executed by a prior owner materially changes how the multiple presents, so buyers should establish its state before purchase.
What are the dimensions?
The canvas measures roughly 110 by 215 cm, making it a substantial wall-scale work rather than a small edition.
