Ellipticine
Ellipticine
Signed Print
Damien Hirst
£16,000-£25,000Value Indicator
$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator
$30,000-$45,000 Value Indicator
¥160,000-¥240,000 Value Indicator
€19,000-€29,000 Value Indicator
$170,000-$260,000 Value Indicator
¥3,070,000-¥4,790,000 Value Indicator
$21,000-$35,000 Value Indicator
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Aquatint
Edition size: 75
Year: 2007
Size: H 84cm x W 114cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | Phillips London | United Kingdom | |||
| December 2024 | Bonhams New Bond Street | United Kingdom | |||
| September 2023 | Christie's London | United Kingdom | |||
| November 2020 | Cornette de Saint Cyr Brussels | Belgium | |||
| March 2015 | Sotheby's London | United Kingdom | |||
| December 2011 | Ketterer Kunst Hamburg | Germany | |||
| December 2009 | Ketterer Kunst Hamburg | Germany |
Meaning & Analysis
Ellipticine is a signed etching and aquatint in colours produced by renowned contemporary artist, Damien Hirst. The print, made in 2007, is part of the artist’s iconic Spots series. In Ellipticine, Hirst produces nine rows of spots identical in shape and size. The spots are arranged with meticulous precision in a rectangular formation and despite the clinical accuracy or their organisation, the bright colours which the spots are rendered in lightens the tone of the print.
While the spot prints all appear similar in design and formation, they are each unique due to their individual colour combinations. Ellipticine reflects how Hirst challenges the dichotomy between random and methodical, as the seemingly haphazard colour arrangement has a calculated edge to it. The Spots series is an iconic and acclaimed series and the prints have become universally recognised, to the point where spots en-masse are synonymous with the artist.
The Spots series dates back to 1986, when Hirst hand-painted some loose Spots on board. This was followed by his first Spot work on canvas Untitled (with Black Dot) in 1988. Ellipticine represents how Hirst has developed his fascination with and use of spots and adopted the shapes to become part of his visual language. Interestingly, originally Hirst hand-painted the Spots himself, however, as his career evolved, he began to employ assistants to create his Spot works, bringing a factory-like approach to his artistic practice.
Damien Hirst, born in Bristol in 1965, is often hailed the enfant terrible of the contemporary art world. His provocative works challenge conventions and his conceptual brilliance spans installations, paintings, and sculptures, often exploring themes of mortality and the human experience. As a leading figure of the Young British Artists (YBA) movement in the late '80s, Hirst's work has dominated the British art scene for decades and has become renowned for being laced with controversy, thus shaping the dialogue of modern art.
