Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
To Believe
Work Summary & Collector Notes
To Believe 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 detailed butterfly rises from a black ground, the title extending the 'To' phrase group toward themes of faith and conviction.
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 Believe lends a spiritual charge to Hirst's butterfly motif, its verb-phrase title echoing the religious undercurrent that runs through his work. As an etching it demonstrates the artist's engagement with a traditional, painstaking medium, offering a contemplative counterpoint to the glossed color of his larger prints.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 75, signed and stamped, makes To Believe a relatively accessible Hirst etching while retaining series pedigree. Its place within the 'To' phrase group encourages set collecting, and the faith-oriented title gives it interpretive appeal for collectors attentive to the spiritual dimension of Hirst's butterflies.
Historical Context
Dated 2008, To Believe forms part of Hirst's butterfly etchings, a group whose titles span love, regeneration, spirituality and death. The butterfly's long-standing association with the soul and belief informs the title, linking contemporary printmaking to a deep symbolic lineage.
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, To Believe forms part of Hirst's butterfly etchings, a group whose titles span 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.
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 is the image size?
The image measures 250 x 300 mm on a 412 x 443 mm sheet.
How many were made?
It is from an edition of 75, each signed and stamped.
What does the title suggest?
To Believe carries themes of faith and conviction, tapping the spiritual side of Hirst's butterfly symbolism.
What year is it dated?
It is dated 2008.
