Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Composed
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Composed (2022) is made from acid-etched metal plates, cut and assembled, measuring 43 x 55 cm. The artist's signature and numbering are engraved directly into the metal. Issued in an edition of 30 with 5 APs, it is among Vhils's scarcest editions, translating his portraiture into a hard, industrial, laser-etched surface.
Collector notes: Edition of 30 plus 5 artist's proofs according to the saved release record. 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
Etching a portrait into cut and assembled metal plates is a striking material choice, aligning with Vhils's fascination with the industrial fabric of cities. The engraved signature, rather than a pencilled one, reinforces the work's object-like permanence. At an edition of 30, it is a low-run, sculptural piece that stands apart from his paper editions.
Collector Perspective
With only 30 examples plus 5 APs, Composed is one of the rarer Vhils multiples, and its metal construction gives it durability and distinctive presence. The engraved numbering is integral to the object rather than an added mark. Collectors should treat it as a metal artwork: mounting weight, surface oxidation, and edge handling are the relevant care considerations.
Historical Context
Acid-etched and laser-worked metal has a long history in printmaking and industrial art, and Vhils adapts it here to portraiture. Assembling cut plates references construction and fabrication, extending his engagement with the materials of the built environment beyond concrete and posters. The small edition places it among his more exclusive studio productions of the period.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2022
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Laser Etching; catalog dimensions 43 x 55 cm.
- Edition details
- Edition of 30 plus 5 artist's proofs according to the saved release record.
- 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 Vhils'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 2022 and attributes the edition to Underdogs.
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 Underdogs. 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.
- Vhils — official site — Vhils studio · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Vhils — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Vhils (Q115823) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
What is Composed made of?
Acid-etched metal plates, cut and assembled, at 43 x 55 cm.
How is it signed?
The artist's signature and numbering are engraved directly into the metal.
What is the edition size?
Edition of 30, plus 5 artist's proofs, one of his scarcer runs.
Is it a print?
It is an etched and assembled metal object rather than a paper print.
