Damien Hirst Death or Glory, 2011 depicts a single skull surrounding by a wall of white. Encased in gold, the skull sits directly in the center, large glassy eyes poised straight towards the viewer. Through the reflection of the foil are embossed lines that depict the finer details; the division of teeth, the indentations around the eyes and nose that create the illusion of a human skull. The work is illuminated with a transcendent metallic aura that radiates off the page and beckons a closer glance. Choosing to leave the background empty helps center the work in the composition and allows for the gold foil to majestically glisten across the page unhindered from distraction.

Foil blocking is a typically commercial print process now that applies pigment or metallic foil to paper where a heated die (engraved metal piece) stamps onto the foil, causing it to adhere to the surface, leaving the design of the die on the paper. From the finalized design, the metal dies are created in the suitable shape for each color foil to be applied. Traditionally the foil is often gold or silver, but as foil blocking becomes a popular form of printing for today’s artists, various patterns can also be applied, which is known as a pastel foil, that allows flat opaque colors to be printed.

Created in 2011, this foil block on 300gsm Arches 88 archival paper is hand signed by Damien Hirst (Bristol, 1965-) in pencil in the bottom right margin and is from the numbered edition of 2 in pencil in the lower left margin.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Damien Hirst Death or Glory, 2011 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:

Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Damien Hirst Death or Glory, 2011 presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.