Gauntlet Gallery — Retna Print Index
These Are The Days
Work Summary & Collector Notes
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.'
Collector notes: First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 10. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
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.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned screenprint
- Release date
- 2010
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Screen Print | Hand Finished; catalog dimensions 60 x 40 inches; Five colour silkscreen with water colour on 640lb Archers Watercolour Paper. It reads “These are the days we have chosen to live out our time here on earth never to return.”; Retna painted all of the separations by hand, whilst also embellishing each sheet with watercolour.
- Edition details
- First Edition; saved release record states an edition size of 10.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering 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: 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. 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 2010 and attributes the edition to Iron Eye Publishing.
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 Iron Eye Publishing. 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
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.'
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