Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Vhils Print Index
To Have Or To Be
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Released in 2010 in a signed edition of 75, To Have Or To Be is one of Vhils's most technically ambitious early prints. Measuring 82 x 60 cm, this screen print translates his signature ripped-poster collage aesthetic into printed form, using layered halftone dot patterns to simulate the physical build-up of overlaid, torn advertising papers.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 75 :. 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
This print marks a pivotal moment where Vhils solved a core problem: how to reproduce the texture of layered, decayed billboard collage without the physical material itself. By building the effect from printed dots, he demonstrated that his street-derived language could survive translation to paper, making the visual DNA of his wall work portable and collectible.
Collector Perspective
At 82 x 60 cm, this is one of the larger sheets in Vhils's early print output, and the edition of 75 keeps it meaningfully limited. Collectors should confirm the artist's signature and that the dot-layering registration is crisp, since the illusion of depth depends entirely on print quality. Condition of the sheet edges matters given the format.
Historical Context
By 2010 Vhils (Alexandre Farto) had emerged from Lisbon's graffiti scene into international attention, known for carving portraits directly into wall surfaces. This print sits alongside his poster-collage practice, a parallel method where torn advertising layers reveal images beneath, connecting his studio prints to the archaeology-of-the-street idea that defines his work.
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; catalog dimensions 82 x 60 cm; In a limited run we were also able to screenprint this image over posters he found here in London creating ten completely unique pieces; 8 Colour silk screen on paper.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 75 :.
- 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: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: By 2010 Vhils (Alexandre Farto) had emerged from Lisbon's graffiti scene into international attention, known for carving portraits directly into wall surfaces. 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 Pictures On Walls.
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 Pictures On Walls. 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 makes this print technically notable?
It reproduces the effect of layered, torn poster collage using printed halftone dots rather than physical paper layers, an innovation for translating his street aesthetic to print.
How large is the edition?
It is a signed edition of 75, one of Vhils's more limited early screen prints at the larger 82 x 60 cm format.
Is it based on an existing work?
Yes. The image derives from an original poster collage by the artist, reinterpreted for the print medium.
