Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Tetrahydrocannabinol is a 2004 single spot etching in a wide format, sheet size 111.2 x 200.6 cm, published in an edition of 115. Named after the active compound in cannabis, it stretches Hirst's spot grid across an unusually horizontal expanse, giving the familiar motif a panoramic presence.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 115. Each print signed by the artist on the front and numbered on the reverse of the sheet. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The exceptional width, roughly two meters, sets this etching apart from the more standard formats in the pharmaceutical series. Combined with the instantly recognizable, provocative title, it is one of the more distinctive spot etchings, appealing to collectors seeking scale and a memorable name.
Collector Perspective
Each impression is signed on the front and numbered on the reverse of the sheet, in an edition of 115. The panoramic dimensions require bespoke framing and careful handling to keep the large sheet flat. Confirm the recto signature and the condition of the extended margins.
Historical Context
Naming a spot etching after THC typifies Hirst's willingness to draw titles from across the chemical and pharmacological spectrum, from sedatives to recreational compounds. The 2004 etchings brought this catalog of substances into intaglio, extending the spot project's clinical logic to a grand scale.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2004
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Etching; catalog dimensions 111.2 x 200.6 cm.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 115. Each print signed by the artist on the front and numbered on the reverse of the sheet.
- 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: 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 2004 and attributes the edition to Paragon Press.
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 Paragon Press. 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
How large is the sheet?
It measures 111.2 x 200.6 cm, about 44 x 79 inches, an unusually wide format.
What is the edition size?
It was published in an edition of 115 in 2004.
What does the title refer to?
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound in cannabis, in keeping with Hirst's chemical titling.
How is it signed?
Signed on the front and numbered on the reverse of the sheet.
