Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
To Begin
Work Summary & Collector Notes
To Begin is a butterfly etching by Damien Hirst, dated 2008 with a 250 x 300 mm image on a 412 x 443 mm sheet, signed and stamped in an edition of 75. Its finely worked butterfly emerges from a black ground like a mounted specimen, the affirmative title opening a phrase-based grouping within the series.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Each etching is an edition of 75. The saved release record describes: signed. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
To Begin shows Hirst deploying the butterfly through the intimate discipline of etching, with an image size compact enough to reward close viewing. Its verb-phrase title, part of a group beginning with 'To,' reads almost as an incantation, layering aspiration onto a motif that has anchored Hirst's visual identity since his early career.
Collector Perspective
The edition of 75, larger than the 45-run butterfly etchings, is offset by its signed-and-stamped presentation and the recognizable series format. The 'To' phrasing invites collectors to assemble the phrase-based works as a set, and the modest sheet size makes it an accessible entry point into Hirst's etched butterflies.
Historical Context
Dated 2008 and part of Hirst's butterfly etchings, To Begin sits within a group whose titles reference love, regeneration, freedom, spirituality and death. The butterfly's centuries-long life in art and literature as a symbol of transformation underpins the forward-looking sense of its title.
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 41.2 x 44.3 cm.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Each etching is an edition of 75.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed. 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: Dated 2008 and part of Hirst's butterfly etchings, To Begin sits within a group whose titles reference love, regeneration, freedom, 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.
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 are the dimensions of To Begin?
The image is 250 x 300 mm on a 412 x 443 mm sheet.
How is it authenticated?
Each etching is signed and stamped, from an edition of 75.
What year is it dated?
The etching is dated 2008.
Is it part of a titled group?
Yes, it belongs to a set of butterfly etchings whose titles begin with 'To,' reading as evocative phrases.
