Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Renewal
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Renewal is a 2009 etching measuring 47.3 x 39.3 cm, published by Other Criteria in a signed and numbered edition of 45. Belonging to Hirst's butterfly etching series, it presents the insect in fine intaglio detail against a deep black ground, evoking a specimen preserved for study and display.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 45. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
Renewal names one of the butterfly's most affirming meanings, rebirth and the cyclical return of life, giving the work an optimistic counterpoint to the memento mori undercurrent of the series. The etched detail lends the image a scientific delicacy that heightens the tension between preservation and vitality.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 45 in the intaglio medium marks Renewal as one of the more limited, craft-driven Hirst prints. Its modest scale and classic black-ground composition suit refined framing. Collectors should authenticate the pencil signature and plate impression and may appreciate acquiring it alongside its companion etchings as a themed set.
Historical Context
Part of Hirst's 2009 butterfly etchings with Other Criteria, Renewal invokes the butterfly's centuries-old symbolism of regeneration, fortune, and spirituality. The series represents a considered extension of a motif that has anchored Hirst's practice and public identity since the early 1990s.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2009
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Etching; catalog dimensions 47.3 x 39.3 cm.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 45.
- 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: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: Part of Hirst's 2009 butterfly etchings with Other Criteria, Renewal invokes the butterfly's centuries-old symbolism of regeneration, fortune, and spirituality. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2009 and attributes the edition to Other Criteria. The saved description also notes: Published by 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 Renewal signify?
It evokes rebirth and the cyclical return of life, a hopeful facet of the butterfly's rich symbolism.
How was Renewal produced?
It is an etching, an intaglio technique that allows fine, detailed line work bitten into a metal plate.
What is the edition size?
It is a signed and numbered edition of 45, published by Other Criteria.
Is it part of a larger series?
Yes, it is one of Hirst's 2009 butterfly etchings sharing a common format and theme.
