Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
These Are The Days
Summary
These Are The Days, 2010, is a five-color silkscreen with watercolor on 640lb Arches watercolour paper, measuring 60 x 40 inches in an edition of 10. RETNA painted all the color separations by hand. The text reads: 'These are the days we have chosen to live out our time here on earth never to return.'
Why It Matters
Hand-painted separations, added watercolor, and heavy 640lb Arches stock make each impression a labor-intensive hybrid closer to a painting than a standard print. An edition of only 10 at 60 x 40 inches places this among RETNA's rarest and most ambitious large works. The legible inscription is unusually direct for his coded script.
Collector Perspective
Extremely limited at just 10, monumentally scaled, and individually hand-worked, These Are The Days is a top-tier acquisition. The watercolor and heavy Arches paper demand careful conservation and framing. Collectors should verify the edition number and inspect the hand-applied watercolor passages for condition and consistency.
Historical Context
Made in 2010, this work captures RETNA merging his graffiti-born calligraphy with fine-art watercolor and premium paper, a signal of his growing gallery ambitions. The reflective text on mortality and time echoes the spiritual and philosophical themes running through his lettering practice.
FAQ
How many were made?
The edition is just 10, making it one of RETNA's rarest large prints.
What makes each impression unique?
RETNA hand-painted all the color separations and added watercolor, so each varies.
What paper was used?
640lb Arches watercolour paper, a very heavy archival stock.
What does the text say?
'These are the days we have chosen to live out our time here on earth never to return.'
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.