Damien Hirst

£8,000-£10,000 VALUE (EST.)

AUD15,000-AUD20,000 VALUE (EST.)

CAD15,000-CAD15,000 VALUE (EST.)

CNY70,000-CNY80,000 VALUE (EST.)

€9,000-€10,000 VALUE (EST.)

HKD70,000-HKD90,000 VALUE (EST.)

¥1,330,000-¥1,660,000 VALUE (EST.)

$10,000-$10,000 VALUE (EST.)

This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.

Meaning & Analysis

To Begin is a signed etching in colours produced by renowned contemporary artist, Damien Hirst. The print, made in 2008, shows a magnificent blue butterfly with a white pattern on its wings. The butterfly is depicted from a close-up angle, enabling the viewer to see all the details of the insect’s body. The print captures the natural beauty of the butterfly, an insect which has long interested Hirst. The butterfly is set against a black backdrop, meaning the blue and white of its wings stands out dramatically, capturing the viewer’s attention.

Butterflies have become one of Hirst’s best-known motifs and the insects are often incorporated into the artist’s work. Other examples of works that use butterflies as their inspiration are the H7 series and the Kaleidoscope series, an impressive body of prints that are composed of patterns of concentric circles made up of butterfly wings.

Hirst was drawn to the butterfly due to the significant spiritual symbolism the insect carries. For the Greeks, the butterfly was used to depict the Psyche and the soul. In Christian imagery, butterflies have been used to signify the resurrection. Hirst is fascinated by contemporary belief systems, such as religion, and his use of the butterfly reflects how he uses his art to explore such systems of belief.