Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
Cartoon Stone (Original Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
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.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: 17 variations of colors, each is an edition of 12. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
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.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned lithograph
- Release date
- 2023
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Lithograph; catalog dimensions 107 x 77 cm; 17 variations of colors, each is an edition of 12; Lithographs on stone, printed with Marinoni lithographic press, hand cut.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: 17 variations of colors, each is an edition of 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: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: 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. 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 2023 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
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.
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