I Once Was What You Are, You Will Be What I Am 4
I Once Was What You Are, You Will Be What I Am 4
Signed Print
Damien Hirst
£3,250-£4,850Value
Indicator
$6,000-$9,500 Value Indicator
$5,500-$8,500 Value Indicator
¥29,000-¥45,000 Value Indicator
€3,800-€5,500 Value Indicator
$30,000-$50,000 Value Indicator
¥610,000-¥900,000 Value Indicator
$4,150-$6,000 Value Indicator
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.
Etching, 2007
Signed Print Edition of 48
H 94cm x W 86cm
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Damien Hirst's etching titled "I Once Was What You Are, You Will Be What I Am 4" (signed) is estimated to be worth between £3,250 to £4,850. This artwork has only been sold once at auction, with the first sale taking place on 19th September 2012. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 48.
Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Artwork | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2012 | Christie's London - United Kingdom | I Once Was What You Are, You Will Be What I Am 4 - Signed Print |
Meaning & Analysis
Damien Hirst borrows the words ‘I Once Was What You Are,You Will Be What I Am Now’ from a Latin epitaph: ‘Quod tu es, ego fui, quod ego sum, tu eris’. Here the words are used to title six signed photogravure etchings in Hirst’s 2007 print series. Produced in an edition of 48, these artworks are all signed and numbered by the artist.
Like other prints in this series, I Once Was What You Are Now 4 depicts a white skull emerging from a darkened background. With it’s chin slightly raised the skull sends a message to the viewer, challenging us to take heed. ‘The Skull’ as memento mori is a motif found throughout the history of art; it is also a recognisable symbol in Hirst’s own ouvre where the balance of life and death is a theme commonly explored.
I Once Was What You Are, You Will Be What I Am 4 can be appreciated either in isolation, or as a part of the intended group of six artworks. It is also worth considering prints in this series alongside the six etchings which comprise The Souls On Jacob’s Ladder Take Their Flight. Conceived and created in tandem, these artworks show brightly coloured butterflies on a black background.
