Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
No Man Knows The Day Nor The Hour Of Death
Summary
No Man Knows The Day Nor The Hour Of Death, 2011, is a collaboration between RETNA and Richard Duardo — a three-color serigraph on Stonehenge 100% archival cotton rag, measuring 24 x 40.5 inches in an edition of 20, signed and numbered. The title references Matthew 24:36.
Why It Matters
This is a direct collaboration with Richard Duardo, the influential LA master printer often called the 'Warhol of the West.' Pairing RETNA's script with Duardo's printmaking authority gives the edition unusual provenance weight. An edition of 20 keeps it scarce, and the biblical title adds a layer of narrative reference.
Collector Perspective
The Duardo collaboration is the key draw here, tying RETNA to one of the most significant figures in West Coast serigraphy. An edition of 20 on Stonehenge cotton rag offers both scarcity and archival quality. Collectors should confirm signatures and numbering and note the Duardo association in provenance records.
Historical Context
Produced in 2011, this print sits within RETNA's fruitful relationship with Richard Duardo, who printed and championed many street-rooted LA artists before his death in 2014. The Matthew 24:36 scripture reflects the spiritual and textual undercurrents that thread through RETNA's cipher-like lettering.
FAQ
Who collaborated on this print?
It is a collaboration between RETNA and master printer Richard Duardo.
What is the source of the title?
The title references Matthew 24:36 from the New Testament.
What is the edition size?
The edition is 20, signed and numbered.
What paper was used?
Stonehenge 100% archival cotton rag paper.
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.