Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Phenyl Salicylate (First Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Phenyl Salicylate (First Edition) is a 2012 Manifold Editions woodcut carrying two-inch spots on a 6 x 6 inch sheet. Its square format holds an evenly spaced grid of medium dots, with the woodcut process lending each spot a printed-relief texture distinct from the flat mechanical finish of Hirst's screenprinted spots.
Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 55. 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 two-inch spots strike a balance between the grid discipline of the series and the material character of woodcut, letting colour and grain both register. As a First Edition Manifold woodcut, Phenyl Salicylate participates in Hirst's deliberate reworking of his most recognisable motif into a hand-cut, tactile format.
Collector Perspective
The 6 x 6 inch square and edition of 55 make this a collectible, display-friendly spot at accessible scale. Its two-inch spots give slightly bolder presence than the one-inch variants. Buyers should confirm signature and numbering, check for consistent ink coverage across the block, and retain Manifold Editions provenance materials.
Historical Context
Phenyl Salicylate takes its title from a chemical compound, following Hirst's pharmaceutical naming system for the spots. Conceived in the late 1980s and endlessly extended, the spot series found renewed material expression in the 2012 Manifold woodcuts, which translate the grid into one of the oldest relief printing methods.
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 6 x 6 inches; Woodcut print with 2-inch spots.
- Edition details
- First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 55.
- 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 2012 and attributes the edition to Manifold Editions.
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 are the spots?
The spots are two inches in diameter on a 6 x 6 inch sheet.
What does First Edition mean here?
It designates this as the first edition of the Phenyl Salicylate woodcut from Manifold Editions.
What is the medium?
It is a woodcut, giving the spots a relief texture rather than a flat screenprinted surface.
How many were made?
It was published in an edition of 55.
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