Exhibition: Who Needs Colour . . . : original paintings, drawings and prints by Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Hockney, Riley, Haring, Hirst and Banksy for sale

Damien Hirst’s Victory Over Death (2008) is a compelling photogravure etching with hand-coloured details in gouache, reflecting his ongoing exploration of mortality and the human condition. This artwork serves as a print adaptation of his renowned 2007 sculpture For the Love of God, a platinum cast of an 18th-century human skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds. In Victory Over Death, Hirst presents a diamond-encrusted skull set against a stark black background, creating a striking visual contrast. The skull appears to float, detached from any corporeal form, confronting viewers with a modern memento mori—a reminder of life's transience. By adorning the skull with diamonds, Hirst juxtaposes symbols of wealth and permanence against the inevitability of death, challenging traditional associations of skulls with decay. This piece is the only and largest etching of Hirst's iconic diamond skull, making it a unique entry in his body of work.