Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
Madre (First Edition)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Madre (First Edition, 2023) is a silkscreen with crystallina on Coventry Rag 290 gsm, hand-signed and numbered by the artist on the front. In an edition of 75 at 40 x 22.5 inches, it pairs Retna's script with a shimmering crystallina surface treatment on a heavyweight cotton-rag sheet.
Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 75. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The crystallina application gives the print a reflective, jewel-like quality that shifts with viewing angle, a hallmark of Retna's more decorative editions. Front-of-sheet hand signing and numbering strengthen the documentation. At 75 impressions it sits in a mid-tier availability band, accessible yet clearly limited.
Collector Perspective
The vertical 40-inch format suits a narrow wall or pairing. Coventry Rag is a durable, archival cotton stock, but crystallina finishes reward careful framing under glazing that avoids abrasion. Confirm the front signature and edition number, and inspect the shimmer surface for even application.
Historical Context
The title Madre continues Retna's habit of naming works with Spanish and personally resonant words, reflecting his Los Angeles bicultural context. His script here operates as both language and ornament, a duality that has defined his gallery editions since the early 2010s.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2023
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print; catalog dimensions 40 x 22.5 inches; Silkscreen and crystallina on coventry rag 290gsm. Hand signed and numbered by the Artist on the front.
- Edition details
- First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 75.
- 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 2023 and attributes the edition to Alchemy Editions.
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 Alchemy Editions. 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
What is crystallina?
It is a reflective surface treatment that gives the print a shimmering, faceted quality that changes with the angle of light and viewing.
Where is it signed?
The artist hand-signed and numbered it on the front of the sheet.
What is the edition size?
It is an edition of 75, measuring 40 x 22.5 inches on Coventry Rag 290 gsm.
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