Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
Cartoon Stone (Original Edition)
Summary
Cartoon Stone is a stone lithograph printed on a Marinoni lithographic press and hand-cut. Issued across 17 color variations, each in an edition of just 12, it is signed by the artist, numbered, and stamped by the publishing house. Measuring roughly 107 x 77 cm, it belongs to Retna's most labor-intensive fine-art printmaking category.
Why It Matters
Stone lithography ties Retna to a centuries-old process rarely used by contemporary street-rooted artists. With only 12 impressions per color and 17 colorways, the total pool remains small and the per-variation scarcity is high. The Marinoni press and hand-cutting signal an atelier-grade production far removed from mass screenprinting.
Collector Perspective
The 17-colorway structure means collectors can pursue a specific palette, but every individual variation is genuinely rare at 12 examples. The publisher's stamp plus the artist's signature and numbering form a three-point authentication chain worth confirming. Because each is drawn on stone, expect the soft, granular quality unique to that matrix.
Historical Context
Note the description references a 2022 creation date while the release is catalogued as 2023, reflecting the gap between studio work and publication common to stone-lithograph editions. Retna's engagement with traditional European lithography aligns his coded script with the same presses used for museum-grade printmaking.
FAQ
Why are there 17 versions?
The edition was printed in 17 distinct color variations, each limited to 12 impressions, so the palette rather than the composition distinguishes each example.
What authenticates it?
It is signed by the artist, numbered, and stamped by the publishing house, forming a three-point chain of documentation.
Is 2022 or 2023 the correct year?
The description cites 2022 as the making date; it is catalogued here as a 2023 release, reflecting the lag between production and publication.
About the Artist
RETNA (Marquis Lewis, born 1979 in Los Angeles) is an American artist known for a distinctive invented script that fuses graffiti, calligraphy, and historical alphabets including Egyptian hieroglyphs, Arabic, and blackletter. He rose from the LA street-art scene and gained wide recognition in the 2010s through gallery exhibitions and public murals. His hybrid typographic style has led to collaborations with brands and institutions, and his large-scale text-based canvases have been shown internationally. RETNA's coded lettering remains his signature, treated as a personal, largely illegible language.
Collecting Retna at Gauntlet Gallery
What should I look for when buying a RETNA print?
Look for signed and numbered screen prints from documented releases, noting the edition size, paper, and any embossed publisher marks. RETNA's dense script prints are popular, so verify that the signature and numbering match the known edition. Original paintings require thorough provenance. Gauntlet Gallery lists edition details and condition for each RETNA work offered.
How are RETNA works authenticated?
Authentication rests on the publisher's certificate of authenticity, the hand signature, and a clear ownership trail from a gallery, auction house, or the studio. Comparing the print to its published edition specifications is key. Gauntlet Gallery documents each piece with its available paperwork and provenance rather than relying on any authority the artist does not endorse.
What drives value in RETNA's work?
Unique canvases and hand-embellished works sit at the top of the market, followed by low-edition signed prints in strong condition. Value reflects scale, complexity of the script composition, exhibition history, and provenance. Well-preserved, fully documented pieces from recognized editions retain value most reliably.