The Market's Most Wanted 2023

40
Woodcut Spots

Damien Hirst’s 40 Woodcut Spots, begun in 2011, is one of his largest print series, each print offered in an edition of 55. In capturing the crisp, formulaic work of his spot paintings in woodcut form, Hirst achieves a surprising variety of compositional development and texture.

Damien Hirst prints for sale

Picolinic Acid - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Picolinic Acid 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

TradingFloor

1 in network
Doxylamine - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Doxylamine 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£13,000-£19,000Value Indicator

$25,000-$35,000 Value Indicator

$22,000-$30,000 Value Indicator

¥120,000-¥170,000 Value Indicator

15,000-22,000 Value Indicator

$130,000-$190,000 Value Indicator

¥2,360,000-¥3,440,000 Value Indicator

$16,000-$24,000 Value Indicator

4% AAGR (5YR)

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3 in network
11 want this
Perillartine - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Perillartine 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£5,500-£8,000Value Indicator

$10,500-$15,000 Value Indicator

$9,500-$13,500 Value Indicator

¥50,000-¥70,000 Value Indicator

6,500-9,500 Value Indicator

$50,000-$80,000 Value Indicator

¥1,020,000-¥1,480,000 Value Indicator

$7,000-$10,000 Value Indicator

35% AAGR (5YR)

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1 in network
11 want this
Benzyl Viologen - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Benzyl Viologen 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

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3 in network
Probucol - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Probucol 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

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1 in network
Norcamphor - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Norcamphor 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£9,000-£13,000Value Indicator

$17,000-$25,000 Value Indicator

$15,000-$22,000 Value Indicator

¥80,000-¥120,000 Value Indicator

10,500-15,000 Value Indicator

$90,000-$130,000 Value Indicator

¥1,670,000-¥2,410,000 Value Indicator

$11,500-$16,000 Value Indicator

22% AAGR (5YR)

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2 in network
1 want this
Thr-Ser - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Thr-Ser 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£7,000-£11,000Value Indicator

$13,500-$21,000 Value Indicator

$12,000-$19,000 Value Indicator

¥60,000-¥100,000 Value Indicator

8,000-13,000 Value Indicator

$70,000-$110,000 Value Indicator

¥1,300,000-¥2,040,000 Value Indicator

$9,000-$14,000 Value Indicator

57% AAGR (5YR)

TradingFloor

2 in network
Fenbufen - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2012 - MyArtBroker
Fenbufen 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£7,000-£10,500Value Indicator

$13,500-$20,000 Value Indicator

$12,000-$18,000 Value Indicator

¥60,000-¥90,000 Value Indicator

8,000-12,000 Value Indicator

$70,000-$100,000 Value Indicator

¥1,270,000-¥1,900,000 Value Indicator

$9,000-$13,000 Value Indicator

15% AAGR (5YR)

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1 in network
3 want this
Quinizarin - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Quinizarin 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

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1 in network
1 want this
Quisqualic Acid - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Quisqualic Acid 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

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1 in network
1 want this
Ethisterone - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Ethisterone 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£3,750-£5,500Value Indicator

$7,000-$10,500 Value Indicator

$6,500-$9,500 Value Indicator

¥35,000-¥50,000 Value Indicator

4,400-6,500 Value Indicator

$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator

¥690,000-¥1,020,000 Value Indicator

$4,700-$7,000 Value Indicator

24% AAGR (5YR)

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1 in network
1 want this
Fast Scarlett TR Base - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Fast Scarlett TR Base 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£18,000-£27,000Value Indicator

$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator

$30,000-$45,000 Value Indicator

¥160,000-¥240,000 Value Indicator

21,000-30,000 Value Indicator

$180,000-$270,000 Value Indicator

¥3,330,000-¥5,000,000 Value Indicator

$23,000-$35,000 Value Indicator

30% AAGR (5YR)

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1 in network
1 want this
Isovanillin - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Isovanillin 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£12,000-£18,000Value Indicator

$23,000-$35,000 Value Indicator

$21,000-$30,000 Value Indicator

¥110,000-¥160,000 Value Indicator

14,000-21,000 Value Indicator

$120,000-$180,000 Value Indicator

¥2,220,000-¥3,330,000 Value Indicator

$15,000-$23,000 Value Indicator

32% AAGR (5YR)

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1 in network
1 want this
Picrotoxin - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Picrotoxin 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

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1 in network
Ribonolactone - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Ribonolactone 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£14,000-£21,000Value Indicator

$27,000-$40,000 Value Indicator

$24,000-$35,000 Value Indicator

¥130,000-¥190,000 Value Indicator

16,000-25,000 Value Indicator

$140,000-$210,000 Value Indicator

¥2,590,000-¥3,890,000 Value Indicator

$18,000-$26,000 Value Indicator

81% AAGR (5YR)

TradingFloor

1 in network
Maltohexaose - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Maltohexaose 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£4,950-£7,500Value Indicator

$9,500-$14,500 Value Indicator

$8,500-$13,000 Value Indicator

¥45,000-¥70,000 Value Indicator

6,000-9,000 Value Indicator

$50,000-$70,000 Value Indicator

¥920,000-¥1,390,000 Value Indicator

$6,000-$9,500 Value Indicator

22% AAGR (5YR)

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1 in network
Ammonium Sulfamate - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Ammonium Sulfamate 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£5,000-£7,500Value Indicator

$9,500-$14,500 Value Indicator

$8,500-$13,000 Value Indicator

¥45,000-¥70,000 Value Indicator

6,000-9,000 Value Indicator

$50,000-$70,000 Value Indicator

¥930,000-¥1,390,000 Value Indicator

$6,500-$9,500 Value Indicator

188% AAGR (5YR)

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2 want this
Ala-His - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Ala-His 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£8,000-£12,000Value Indicator

$15,000-$23,000 Value Indicator

$13,500-$21,000 Value Indicator

¥70,000-¥110,000 Value Indicator

9,500-14,000 Value Indicator

$80,000-$120,000 Value Indicator

¥1,450,000-¥2,180,000 Value Indicator

$10,000-$15,000 Value Indicator

33% AAGR (5YR)

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2 want this
Glycine Cresol Red - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Glycine Cresol Red 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£5,000-£7,500Value Indicator

$9,500-$14,500 Value Indicator

$8,500-$13,000 Value Indicator

¥45,000-¥70,000 Value Indicator

6,000-9,000 Value Indicator

$50,000-$70,000 Value Indicator

¥930,000-¥1,390,000 Value Indicator

$6,500-$9,500 Value Indicator

11% AAGR (5YR)

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2 want this
Jojoba Bean Oil - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Jojoba Bean Oil 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£7,500-£11,500Value Indicator

$14,500-$22,000 Value Indicator

$13,000-$20,000 Value Indicator

¥70,000-¥100,000 Value Indicator

9,000-13,500 Value Indicator

$70,000-$110,000 Value Indicator

¥1,390,000-¥2,130,000 Value Indicator

$9,500-$14,500 Value Indicator

25% AAGR (5YR)

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1 want this
Carbonyl Iron - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Carbonyl Iron 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£11,500-£17,000Value Indicator

$22,000-$35,000 Value Indicator

$20,000-$29,000 Value Indicator

¥100,000-¥150,000 Value Indicator

13,500-20,000 Value Indicator

$110,000-$170,000 Value Indicator

¥2,130,000-¥3,150,000 Value Indicator

$14,500-$21,000 Value Indicator

10% AAGR (5YR)

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1 want this
Lauric Acid Butyl Ester - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Lauric Acid Butyl Ester 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£4,900-£7,500Value Indicator

$9,500-$14,500 Value Indicator

$8,500-$13,000 Value Indicator

¥45,000-¥70,000 Value Indicator

5,500-8,500 Value Indicator

$50,000-$70,000 Value Indicator

¥890,000-¥1,360,000 Value Indicator

$6,000-$9,500 Value Indicator

5% AAGR (5YR)

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1 want this
Phenyl Salicylate - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Phenyl Salicylate 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£4,450-£6,500Value Indicator

$8,500-$12,500 Value Indicator

$7,500-$11,000 Value Indicator

¥40,000-¥60,000 Value Indicator

5,000-7,500 Value Indicator

$45,000-$60,000 Value Indicator

¥820,000-¥1,200,000 Value Indicator

$5,500-$8,000 Value Indicator

14% AAGR (5YR)

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1 want this
Cupric Bromide - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2012 - MyArtBroker
Cupric Bromide 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£4,350-£6,500Value Indicator

$8,500-$12,500 Value Indicator

$7,500-$11,000 Value Indicator

¥40,000-¥60,000 Value Indicator

5,000-7,500 Value Indicator

$45,000-$60,000 Value Indicator

¥810,000-¥1,200,000 Value Indicator

$5,500-$8,000 Value Indicator

30% AAGR (5YR)

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1 want this
Equilin - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Equilin 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£4,850-£7,000Value Indicator

$9,500-$13,500 Value Indicator

$8,500-$12,000 Value Indicator

¥45,000-¥60,000 Value Indicator

5,500-8,000 Value Indicator

$50,000-$70,000 Value Indicator

¥900,000-¥1,300,000 Value Indicator

$6,000-$9,000 Value Indicator

41% AAGR (5YR)

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1 want this
Ala-Met - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Ala-Met 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£17,000-£26,000Value Indicator

$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator

$29,000-$45,000 Value Indicator

¥150,000-¥230,000 Value Indicator

20,000-30,000 Value Indicator

$170,000-$260,000 Value Indicator

¥3,150,000-¥4,820,000 Value Indicator

$21,000-$35,000 Value Indicator

38% AAGR (5YR)

TradingFloor

1 want this
Nifedipine - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2012 - MyArtBroker
Nifedipine 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£5,000-£7,500Value Indicator

$9,500-$14,500 Value Indicator

$8,500-$13,000 Value Indicator

¥45,000-¥70,000 Value Indicator

6,000-9,000 Value Indicator

$50,000-$70,000 Value Indicator

¥930,000-¥1,390,000 Value Indicator

$6,500-$9,500 Value Indicator

31% AAGR (5YR)
Meparticin - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Meparticin 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£5,500-£8,500Value Indicator

$10,500-$16,000 Value Indicator

$9,500-$14,500 Value Indicator

¥50,000-¥80,000 Value Indicator

6,500-10,000 Value Indicator

$50,000-$80,000 Value Indicator

¥1,000,000-¥1,540,000 Value Indicator

$7,000-$10,500 Value Indicator

-11% AAGR (5YR)
Isostearic Acid - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Isostearic Acid 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£3,800-£5,500Value Indicator

$7,500-$10,500 Value Indicator

$6,500-$9,500 Value Indicator

¥35,000-¥50,000 Value Indicator

4,450-6,500 Value Indicator

$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator

¥700,000-¥1,020,000 Value Indicator

$4,800-$7,000 Value Indicator

16% AAGR (5YR)
Cesium Sulfate - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Cesium Sulfate 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£5,000-£7,500Value Indicator

$9,500-$14,500 Value Indicator

$8,500-$13,000 Value Indicator

¥45,000-¥70,000 Value Indicator

6,000-9,000 Value Indicator

$50,000-$70,000 Value Indicator

¥930,000-¥1,390,000 Value Indicator

$6,500-$9,500 Value Indicator

Oleandrigenin - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Oleandrigenin 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£3,600-£5,500Value Indicator

$7,000-$10,500 Value Indicator

$6,000-$9,500 Value Indicator

¥30,000-¥50,000 Value Indicator

4,200-6,500 Value Indicator

$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator

¥670,000-¥1,020,000 Value Indicator

$4,550-$7,000 Value Indicator

5% AAGR (5YR)
Ferric Acid Citrate - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Ferric Acid Citrate 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£5,500-£8,500Value Indicator

$10,500-$16,000 Value Indicator

$9,500-$14,500 Value Indicator

¥50,000-¥80,000 Value Indicator

6,500-10,000 Value Indicator

$50,000-$80,000 Value Indicator

¥1,020,000-¥1,570,000 Value Indicator

$7,000-$10,500 Value Indicator

52% AAGR (5YR)
Curare - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Curare 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£8,500-£12,500Value Indicator

$16,000-$24,000 Value Indicator

$14,500-$21,000 Value Indicator

¥80,000-¥110,000 Value Indicator

10,000-14,500 Value Indicator

$80,000-$120,000 Value Indicator

¥1,540,000-¥2,270,000 Value Indicator

$10,500-$16,000 Value Indicator

10% AAGR (5YR)
Amniotic Fluid - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2012 - MyArtBroker
Amniotic Fluid 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£4,750-£7,000Value Indicator

$9,000-$13,500 Value Indicator

$8,000-$12,000 Value Indicator

¥45,000-¥60,000 Value Indicator

5,500-8,000 Value Indicator

$45,000-$70,000 Value Indicator

¥880,000-¥1,300,000 Value Indicator

$6,000-$9,000 Value Indicator

40% AAGR (5YR)
Nopaline - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Nopaline 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£8,000-£12,000Value Indicator

$15,000-$23,000 Value Indicator

$13,500-$21,000 Value Indicator

¥70,000-¥110,000 Value Indicator

9,500-14,000 Value Indicator

$80,000-$120,000 Value Indicator

¥1,480,000-¥2,220,000 Value Indicator

$10,000-$15,000 Value Indicator

14% AAGR (5YR)
Manganese Chloride - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Manganese Chloride 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

£2,850-£4,300Value Indicator

$5,500-$8,000 Value Indicator

$4,850-$7,500 Value Indicator

¥26,000-¥40,000 Value Indicator

3,300-5,000 Value Indicator

$28,000-$40,000 Value Indicator

¥520,000-¥780,000 Value Indicator

$3,600-$5,500 Value Indicator

-6% AAGR (5YR)
Benzyloxyurea - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Benzyloxyurea 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

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1 in network
2 want this
Ethylamine - Signed Print by Damien Hirst 2011 - MyArtBroker
Ethylamine 
Damien HirstSigned Print 

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2 want this

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Meaning & Analysis

Hirst’s 40 Woodcut Spots is one of his largest print collections, published in editions of 55 and showing huge variety across his signature dot motif. The series is representative of one of Hirst’s most iconic genre of works, the spot paintings. These works first appeared in the Freeze exhibition, curated by Hirst himself in London in 1988. This exhibition showcased his own work alongside the work of his friends and fellow students from Goldsmiths College in an abandoned docklands warehouse. Marking a turning point in Hirst’s career, Hirst then rose to fame and would go on to win the Turner prize seven years later.

Due to its vast size, the 40 Woodcut Spots collection showcases huge variety in its deceptively simplistic subject matter. Every single print in the series shows a unique combination of coloured spots in various sizes and grid formulations. Some of the prints show a single large spot in the centre of the composition, whilst others show many rows and columns of spots equally spaced and set against a white backdrop. The spots represent abstraction reduced to its most basic mechanisms: colour, form and composition. The grid formula for these paintings is the basis for an unbounded series where Hirst can infinitely explore harmonious and contrasting colour combinations. Hirst has explained that, “mathematically, with the spot paintings, I probably discovered the most fundamentally important thing in any kind of art. Which is the harmony of where colour can exist on its own, interacting with other colours in a perfect format.”

The titles of each print, based on names of chemical compounds, are abstract in their lack of significance of something tangible in the world. The chemical names evoke nondescript powders or pills and there is an incessant endlessness to the series. The circles are printed in flat, block hues and no colour is repeated twice on the same canvas. Hirst in 2000 remarked on the impact of an installation of multiple spot paintings, “it’s an assault on your senses. They grab hold of you and give you a good shaking. As adults, we’re not used to it. It’s an amazing fact that all objects leap beyond their own dimension.”

The first spot paintings that appeared at the Freeze show were hand-painted spots that were messy, expressionist and dripped down an 8ft-by-12ft panel. The two painted arrangements of coloured spots onto the wall of the warehouse, titling them Edge and Row respectively. In contrast to the original spot paintings, the prints in the 40 Woodcut Spots series are precise and clinical in their aesthetic. The Freeze exhibition marked a turning point in Hirst’s career where he began to employ assistants to create the spot paintings. This was part of the artist’s aims towards creating works that appear to have been produced mechanically and without human intervention.

10 Facts About Damien Hirst's 40 Woodcut Spots

The square print shows five rows of spots that are identical in size and shape, each depicting a unique colour.

Thr-Ser © Damien Hirst 2011

1. 40 Woodcut Spots is one of Hirst's largest print editions

Each iteration of the work appears in an edition of 55, showing huge variety across his signature dot motif. The spot paintings first appeared in the Freeze exhibition that Hirst curated in 1988, and have since then become synonymous with the artist. These original works were hand-painted, messy and complete with paint dripping down an 8ft-by-12ft panel. 40 Woodcut Spots marks a more mature phase of this motif, with a more mechanical and clean look.

A pink circle in the centre of a canvas, against a white background.

Picrotoxin © Damien Hirst 2011

2. Each print is named after a chemical compound

Each print is named after a chemical compound that is found in nature, with names like Doxylamine, Quisqualic Acid and Ethylamine. The prints expand on Hirst's fascination with scientific and pharmaceutical themes, a profound exploration of the interplay between life, death and human attempts at control. Reminiscent of his early medicine cabinets that encapsulate our reliance on and belief in pharmaceuticals, his spot paintings mirror the uniformity of pills.

The print shows various coloured spots arranged methodically into four rows of three. Each spot is a different hue, in a warm colour palette.

Manganese Chloride © Damien Hirst 2011

3. Hirst's spots are all about the harmony of colour and composition

He has stated that "mathematically, with the spot paintings, I probably discovered the most fundamentally important thing in any kind of art, which is the harmony of where colour can exist on its own, interacting with other colours in a perfect format."

The print is a square composition with four circles positioned in each corner. Set against a plain white backdrop, the spots are depicted in flattened colours of yellow, sky blue, khaki green and royal blue.

Nifedipine © Damien Hirst 2012