Name: The Dead (silver gloss, oriental gold)
Brand: Damien Hirst
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of Damien Hirst's The Dead (silver gloss, oriental gold) is estimated to be worth between £4,800 and £7,000. This signed foil block artwork, created in 2009, has shown consistent value growth, with an average annual growth rate of 2%. This work has sold twice at auction, both in the last 12 months. The hammer price in the last 5 years has remained steady, with an average return to the seller of £4,675. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 15.

Meaning & Analysis

The Dead (silver gloss, oriental gold) is a signed foil block print in colours on Arches paper produced by renowned contemporary artist, Damien Hirst. Hirst renders a floating skull in this print, using a bold mix of silver gloss and oriental gold. Set against a simple white backdrop, the skull dominates the centre of the composition and appears to stare out at the viewer of the print.

The print, made in 2009, is part of the artist’s The Dead series. The series is composed of thirty-one prints, with each print depicting the same skull using a different combination of colours. The bright and bold colours Hirst uses throughout the series reflects how the artist is attempting to challenge the way in which death is seen as a taboo subject or “unacceptable idea.”

The Dead series is similar to other series by Hirst which also use skulls as their source of inspiration. I Once Was What You Are, You Will Be What I Am (2007) is composed of six etchings, all of which show a slightly different skull in black and white. Similarly, Memento (2008) is composed of thirteen etchings, seven of which are black and white skulls.