Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
Impression (Timed Edition)
Summary
Impression (2022) is a six-colour lithograph on BFK Rives 250 g/m2 hand-cut paper, 70 x 50 cm, finished with Quink ink and acid. Printed on a Marinoni press at Idem Studio in Paris and hand-finished, signed, and numbered by the artist, it was released as a time-gated open edition, with the final run size fixed by the sales window.
Why It Matters
The time-gated model is significant: rather than a fixed number, the edition size was determined by how many collectors ordered during a limited window, a distribution approach popularised by contemporary print publishers. Despite the open format, each sheet is hand-finished with Quink ink and acid and individually signed, preserving the uniqueness Vhils builds into his editions.
Collector Perspective
Timed editions can result in larger final counts than traditional runs, which typically keeps entry costs lower, but the hand-finishing and Idem Studio provenance add value. Collectors should confirm the total edition size established when the window closed. The BFK Rives hand-cut paper and six-colour lithography make it a well-crafted, framing-ready work at an approachable scale.
Historical Context
Time-limited open editions became a common contemporary strategy in the late 2010s and 2020s, letting demand set supply within a set period. Idem Studio's Marinoni presses connect the piece to a lithographic tradition stretching back through the 20th century's masters. Vhils's use of acid over lithography again ties the studio work to his wall-erosion practice.
FAQ
What does 'time-gated open edition' mean?
The edition was open for a limited period, and the final quantity was set by how many were ordered before the window closed.
Is each print still unique?
Yes; each is hand-finished with Quink ink and acid, then signed and numbered by the artist.
Where was it printed?
At Idem Studio in Paris, on a Marinoni press.
What are the specifications?
A six-colour lithograph on BFK Rives 250 g/m2 hand-cut paper, 70 x 50 cm.
About the Artist
Vhils is the working name of Alexandre Farto, a Portuguese visual artist born in 1987 near Lisbon. He is internationally recognized for a pioneering "carving" technique in which he excavates portraits from layered walls, billboards, and surfaces using chisels, drills, and controlled explosives, effectively creating images by removing material rather than adding it. His large-scale murals appear in cities across the globe, and his studio editions translate this bas-relief, destructive-creation aesthetic into prints, laser-cut works, and mixed-media pieces. Vhils has exhibited widely and collaborated on major public and institutional projects.
Collecting Vhils at Gauntlet Gallery
What Vhils works can I collect?
Beyond his walls, Vhils produces signed, numbered studio editions including screenprints, hand-carved paper, laser-cut metal, and mixed-media relief works. Editions that preserve his signature carving texture are especially sought after. Gauntlet Gallery favors pieces in excellent condition with intact surfaces and complete documentation.
How is a Vhils piece authenticated?
We sell Vhils works with documented studio provenance, supported by the edition's signature and numbering. Each piece is photographed exactly as it will ship, including signature, edition number, and any embossing or studio marks, so details are verifiable up front.
What drives value?
Medium and technique (unique carved and relief works over flat prints), edition size, scale, condition, and documented provenance all shape price. Hand-worked, textural, and one-of-a-kind pieces carry the highest premiums.