RETNA
Untitled (White on Black)
2018
Etching using Charbonnel ink on Hahnemühle etching paper
32 × 21.5 cm
Ed. /33
Location: Paris, France
Documents
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Invoice or proof of purchase
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Certificate of authenticity
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Other documents
About the artwork
Untitled (White on Black) is a refined example of RETNA’s celebrated calligraphic language, blending influences from graffiti, hieroglyphics, Arabic calligraphy, Hebrew letterforms, and global typographic systems. Executed as an etching with Charbonnel ink, one of the finest traditional inks used in printmaking, the piece showcases a crisp, high-contrast composition in which RETNA’s iconic script emerges in bold white strokes against a deep black background. Printed on Hahnemühle paper, renowned for its durability and rich texture, this limited edition of 133 highlights the artist’s ability to translate his street-based visual vocabulary into a sophisticated fine-art medium. The work captures the rhythm, structure, and mystique characteristic of RETNA’s aesthetic, creating a piece that feels both ancient and contemporary.
Expert opinion
Les gravures de RETNA occupent une place importante dans son œuvre, car elles établissent un pont entre sa calligraphie urbaine et les techniques traditionnelles de l’estampe. Ce contraste, entre culture street et procédés classiques, confère aux pièces comme Untitled (White on Black) un attrait particulier pour les collectionneurs en quête d’une expression plus intime et techniquement aboutie de son écriture emblématique. L’utilisation de l’encre Charbonnel et du papier Hahnemühle atteste d’un niveau de production élevé, caractéristique des éditions destinées à une collection exigeante. Le tirage limité à 33 exemplaires offre un équilibre intéressant entre accessibilité et rareté ; les œuvres en noir et blanc de RETNA sont souvent très recherchées en raison de leur lisibilité graphique, de leur symbolisme et de leur impact visuel. Cette pièce présente un fort potentiel de valorisation, notamment pour les collectionneurs intéressés par la calligraphie contemporaine, les questions d’identité et l’évolution du graffiti vers l’art contemporain.
About the artist
American street artist born in 1979. Lives and works in Los Angeles (USA). Marquis Lewis, aka RETNA, combines visual linguistics, urban poetics and the appropriation of fashion images in his work. He uses a variety of media including graffiti, photography and painting, and has established his eclectic style on the international contemporary art scene. Particularly renowned for his distinctive textual style, RETNA has been exhibited internationally in numerous galleries and institutions, including L.A. Art Machine in Los Angeles, Don Gallery in Milan, Yves Laroche Galerie d'Art in Montreal and Art for All in Malaga.
Additional info
Signed
3x
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