About the artwork
"The Empresses" by Damien Hirst is a series of prints, where red and black butterfly wings are arranged in patterns evoking a kaleidoscope. Each work is named after five influential female rulers of history, often forgotten in favor of their male counterparts: Wu Zetian, Theodora, Nūr Jahān, Suiko and Taytu Betul. Their characters and stories are sublimated by the series' dominant red, evoking life, war, power, anger, love, joy and luck. This version is that of Taytu Betul, Empress of Ethiopia, passionate and devoted.
Expert opinion
This print exemplifies a distinct stylistic departure from the artist's more widely recognized abstract expressionist paintings, showcasing his versatility in adopting a graphic, Pop Art-inflected aesthetic. While Francis is primarily known for his large-scale, color-field abstractions, works such as this demonstrate his engagement with figurative elements and bold, simplified forms, often produced later in his career. The market for the artist's prints remains active, with a consistent demand for editions that offer a different facet of his artistic output. Collectors often seek out these graphic works for their accessibility and their clear, direct visual language, which contrasts with the fluidity of his abstract canvases.
About the artist
Born in Bristol in 1965, Damien Hirst is one of the UK's most influential contemporary artists. He studied at Goldsmiths College in London, where in 1988 he organized Freeze, an emblematic exhibition that launched the Young British Artists movement. This initiative attracted the attention of influential collectors, including Charles Saatchi, and propelled Hirst onto the art scene. His artistic approach revolves around the themes of life, death and mortality, with works such as The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (a shark preserved in formaldehyde). His work often marries science and art, exploring the beauty and fragility of human existence through provocative materials and striking installations.Hirst has exhibited at prestigious institutions such as the Tate Modern (London) and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples). In 2008, he defied the art market by auctioning his work directly at Sotheby's, raising £111 million in two days, a record for a living artist.
Additional info
Signed
OTHER ARTWORKS YOU MAY LIKE
Your Dynamic Snippet will be displayed here...
This message is displayed because you did not provide both a filter and a template to use.