Damien Hirst

£21,000-£30,000 VALUE (EST.)

$40,000-$60,000 VALUE (EST.)

$35,000-$50,000 VALUE (EST.)

¥180,000-¥250,000 VALUE (EST.)

€24,000-€35,000 VALUE (EST.)

$200,000-$290,000 VALUE (EST.)

¥3,390,000-¥4,850,000 VALUE (EST.)

$26,000-$35,000 VALUE (EST.)

15% AAGR

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

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.

read more about Spots

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.