Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
Bluestone
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Bluestone (2017) is a one-color stone lithograph printed on a Marinoni lithographic press and hand-cut, on BFK Rives 300 gsm. In a tiny edition of 12 at 109 x 80 cm, it is signed and numbered by the artist, rendering his script in a single blue tone at large scale.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition size: 12. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
An edition of only 12 places Bluestone among Retna's rarest large-format prints. The single-color stone-lithograph approach emphasizes the pure architecture of his alphabet, stripped of polychrome distraction, and the near-110 cm scale gives that line commanding presence.
Collector Perspective
At just 12 impressions, availability is severely limited and each example is a connoisseur-grade object. Stone lithography yields a distinctive granular surface; verify the signature and numbering and inspect the plate quality. Bluestone reads as a color-paired counterpart to the same-format Blackstone.
Historical Context
Printed on stone via Marinoni press, Bluestone exemplifies Retna's most traditional printmaking mode. The single-color, monumental format reflects his 2017 atelier work, where his graffiti-derived script was treated with the gravity of historical European lithography.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned lithograph
- Release date
- 2017
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Lithograph; catalog dimensions 109 x 80 cm; Paper BFK Rives 300 g; Lithograph on stone 1 color printed with Marinoni press lithographic and hand cut; With these two lithographs editions, Retna breaks the codes of his usual calligraphic style and takes us to a completely new universe, as we cannot find any of his signature specialized normally in lettering.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition size: 12.
- 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 Retna'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 2017 and attributes the edition to Print Them All.
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 Print Them All. 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.
- Retna — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- RETNA (Q16218751) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
How rare is Bluestone?
It is a stone lithograph in an edition of just 12, among Retna's scarcest large-format prints.
How many colors is it?
One color, a single blue tone printed on stone, emphasizing the structure of the script.
Is it related to Blackstone?
Yes, it shares the same 109 x 80 cm format and edition of 12, functioning as a color-paired counterpart.
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