Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
The Souls IV (Silver Gloss / Westminster Blue / Oriental Gold)
Summary
The Souls IV (Silver Gloss / Westminster Blue / Oriental Gold) is a 2010 foil-block print measuring 71 x 50.8 cm, published by Paul Stolper Gallery. It belongs to a series of four butterfly compositions issued across eighty different colourways, each in an edition of just 15, making any single variant genuinely rare.
Why It Matters
The metallic foil-block process gives these butterflies an iridescent, jewel-like intensity that ordinary ink cannot achieve. The Souls distills Hirst's central preoccupation, the tension between death and beauty, into a single symbolic insect rendered in shimmering foil, uniting subject and material in one of his most cohesive print statements.
Collector Perspective
With only 15 impressions of this specific silver, blue, and gold colourway, IV is among the scarcer configurations a collector can pursue. Foil surfaces are reflective and delicate, so condition and careful non-glare framing matter greatly. The named colourway is essential to identify precisely, as each of the eighty variants is distinct.
Historical Context
Paul Stolper Gallery has been a long-standing collaborator on Hirst's foil-block and print projects. The Souls extends Hirst's decades-long butterfly motif, first seen in his early installations, into the intimate scale of the edition print, translating his memento mori themes into a controlled palette of eighty metallic combinations.
FAQ
How many colourways of The Souls exist?
The complete Souls project comprises four butterfly compositions issued in eighty different colourways.
What is the edition size of this variant?
Each individual colourway was produced in an edition of only 15.
What is foil block printing?
It is a process that applies metallic foil to the paper, producing a reflective, iridescent surface far more luminous than standard printing inks.
Who published The Souls?
It was published by Paul Stolper Gallery, with the series associated with Other Criteria.
About the Artist
Damien Hirst (born 1965, Bristol) is a British artist and the most prominent figure of the Young British Artists (YBAs). Rising to fame in the late 1980s and 1990s, he built a practice around mortality, science, religion, and beauty — from formaldehyde-preserved animals to his Spot, Spin, and Butterfly (Kaleidoscope) series. Hirst is also one of the most prolific printmakers in contemporary art, releasing extensive signed editions through his own science-led studio and, more recently, the HENI imprint. His work has commanded record prices and defined the market for blue-chip contemporary editions.
Collecting Damien Hirst at Gauntlet Gallery
Which Damien Hirst prints should I collect?
Signed, numbered editions from his signature series — Spots, Butterflies/Kaleidoscope, Spins, Cherry Blossoms, and skull works — are the collectible core. Look for strong condition and the artist's pencil signature. Gauntlet Gallery prioritizes complete, well-documented impressions.
How is a Hirst print authenticated?
We sell Hirst works with documented provenance and the edition's signature and numbering; many carry HENI or studio documentation. Each piece is photographed exactly as it ships, including signature and edition details.
What drives value?
Series and image (iconic Spots and Butterflies lead), edition size, format and scale, condition, and provenance all drive value. Hand-signed, low-numbered, and diamond-dust or foilblock works command premiums.