Color etching and aquatint on wove paper
Britain, 2009
Damien Hirst (b. 1965) – British YBA artist
‘Providence’ from Butterfly Portfolio
Signed in pencil lower right ‘D Hirst’
Numbered in pencil lower left ‘6/45’ with artist’s ink stamp
Published by Other Criteria, London
Full margins with deckled edges
Image dimensions: 11 ¾ x 9 ¾ in. (29.8 x 24.8 cm.)
Sheet dimensions: 18 ½ x 15 ½ in. (47 x 39.4 cm.)
Very good condition

Rendered with the exquisite detail of a lepidopterist, the blue butterfly appears from its black background like an encased species on a collector’s mantle. The butterfly has wide significance in art, literature and science, symbolizing love, regeneration, fortune, freedom, spirituality and death. Part of Hirst’s work since the beginning of his artistic career, the butterfly is one of the artist’s most popular motifs.

Executed in 2009, this color etching on wove paper is signed and numbered six from an edition of forty-five. From the artist’s Butterfly Etchings Portfolio, a set of 12 etchings and aquatints Published by Other Criteria, London, the work has full margins with deckled edges. The image measures 11 ¾ x 9 ¾ inches. In overall good condition with no stains, toning, tears or repairs.

Damien Hirst (British, b. 1965)

Born in Bristol, Damien Hirst first came to public attention in 1988 when he conceived and curated “Freeze,” an exhibition of his work and that of his fellow students at Goldsmiths College, London. In the years that have followed that show, Hirst has become one of the most prominent artists of his generation. Many of his works are widely recognized, from the shark suspended in formaldehyde to his spot, spin and butterfly paintings, through to later works such as the diamond skull. The artist was included in the 1992 Young British Artists exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, London and in 1995 won the Turner Prize. Solo exhibitions of Hirst’s work have been held at Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples (2004), Astrup Fearnley Museet fur Moderne Kunst, Oslo (2005), Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (2008), Galerie Rudolfinum, Prague (2009), The Wallace Collection, London (2009–10), the Oceanographic Museum, Monaco (2010), the Museo di Palazzo Vecchio, Florence (2010) and Tate Modern, London (2012). The artist lives and works in Devon and London, U.K.