Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Spirit
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Spirit (2009) is an etching from Damien Hirst's butterfly series, published by Other Criteria in a signed and numbered edition of 45. Measuring 47.3 x 39.2 cm, it presents a single butterfly in delicate intaglio line against black, its title pointing toward the spiritual dimension that recurs across Hirst's use of the motif.
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
Spirit foregrounds one of the butterfly's oldest symbolic associations, the soul in flight, an idea that gives Hirst's insect imagery its quiet religious undertone. Rendered as a fine etching rather than a bold print, it demonstrates the artist's engagement with a traditional, painstaking medium in service of a familiar theme.
Collector Perspective
With just 45 impressions, Spirit is among the more limited butterfly etchings. Its signature, numbering and Other Criteria provenance meet the standards Hirst collectors look for. The evocative title differentiates it within the set, making it attractive to collectors who value the interpretive layer as much as the image itself.
Historical Context
Published in 2009 by Other Criteria, Spirit belongs to a group of etchings whose titles gesture toward love, regeneration, spirituality and death. The butterfly has been characterized in literature and embedded in resin for centuries as an emblem of the soul, a tradition Hirst extends into contemporary printmaking.
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 39.2 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: Published in 2009 by Other Criteria, Spirit belongs to a group of etchings whose titles gesture toward love, regeneration, spirituality and death. 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 edition is Spirit from?
It is from a signed and numbered edition of 45, published by Other Criteria in 2009.
What technique was used?
It is an etching, printed at 47.3 x 39.2 cm.
Does the title carry meaning?
Yes. Spirit references the butterfly's long association with the soul and spirituality, a recurring theme in Hirst's butterfly works.
Is it part of a series?
Yes, it is one of a group of similarly formatted butterfly etchings distinguished by their titles.
