Damien Hirst
 
B. 1965
 
Cephalothin (Artist Proof) (RARE)
 
Etching in colours, on Hahnemühle etching paper, 2007, signed in pencil, inscribed 'AP' on the reverse (an artist's proof), published by The Paragon Press, London
 
A single spot etching.

Signed by the artist on the front and numbered on the reverse 
 
Sheet Size: 100 x 88 cm (39 3/8 x 34 5/8 in) 
 
Framed: Archivally framed to museum standard, White Powder Coated Darbyshire Frame 
 
Doxylamine had to be printed from two plates as the distance between each spot did not leave enough space for one plate to be inked up efficiently. Therefore, two plates were made, with only every other spot on each plate, giving the printers enough room to ink up the plate. For Cephalothin, in which the concentric pattern of spots left even less space between each individual circle of spots, three plates had to be used for printing. Doxylamine is a sedating antihistamine, which on its own can be used as a short-term sedative. Cephalothin is an antibiotic preventing bacteria from forming adequate cell walls.
 
Hirst explains that,” mathematically, with the spot works, I probably discovered the most fundamentally important thing in any kind of art. Which is the harmony of where colour can exist on its own, interacting with colours in a perfect format”.