Before You Can Entertain Others (2021) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

Before You Can Entertain Others (2021) is a striking David Shrigley screenprint that confronts the viewer with a characteristically droll piece of existential advice. Executed with a rich palette of fourteen distinct inks, the composition features a minimalist cobalt blue figure balancing a lime green block on its foot and a crimson sphere in its hand. This stark arrangement, set against a pristine white background, elevates a simple cartoonish doodle into a powerful visual statement on self-sufficiency.

Through the lens of absurdity, the balancing act becomes a metaphor for the private rituals of entertainment we perform when isolated from an audience. The handwritten text framing the figure acts as a satirical maxim, turning a solitary performance into a profound commentary on the human need for validation. This clever juxtaposition of text and image creates a narrative tension that is both deeply melancholic and quietly triumphant.

David Shrigley

As a celebrated Turner Prize nominee and the mind behind the acclaimed Fourth Plinth commission Really Good in Trafalgar Square, the artist occupies a unique position in contemporary British art. His work is held in prestigious public institutions worldwide, including Tate and the British Council. This widespread institutional recognition has secured his status as one of the most significant and influential satirists of the twenty-first century.

While his practice spans sculpture and digital animation, it is the immediate translation of spontaneous line drawings into graphic editions that defines his legacy. Acquiring a David Shrigley print offers collectors direct access to this raw, unmediated commentary on the human condition. The transition from transient sketch to enduring art object highlights the artist's mastery of the graphic medium.

Screenprint Process

Published in collaboration with the renowned Jealous Gallery in London, this print demonstrates an extraordinary level of technical craftsmanship. The production utilises a sophisticated 14 colour screenprint process, layering dense pigment onto heavyweight Somerset tub sized 410gsm paper to achieve remarkable depth. A tactile varnish overlay is applied to the central elements, contrasting beautifully with the matte finish of the paper.

This demanding screenprinting technique allows the print studio to precisely replicate the fluid, ink-heavy lines of the original drawing. By freezing these spontaneous gestures in ink, this David Shrigley limited edition print achieves a graphic permanence that retains all the vitality of the artist's studio work. The collaborative relationship with Jealous Gallery ensures that every impression meets the highest standards of contemporary printmaking.

Collectability

Works that combine humorous philosophical aphorisms with bold, primary-coloured figures consistently generate the strongest collector interest. Before You Can Entertain Others is a quintessential example of this highly sought-after aesthetic category. Its universal appeal lies in its balance of sharp-witted critique and iconic graphic design, making it highly recognisable to art market insiders.

Representing a major colour work from his highly active 2021 publishing year, this piece has maintained a strong secondary-market presence since its initial release. With the edition size restricted to just 125 hand-signed impressions, opportunities to acquire this specific composition are increasingly limited. This scarcity, paired with the enduring popularity of the artist's text-based works, underpins its continued appeal among discerning collectors.

Artwork Specifications

• Artist: David Shrigley (British, b. 1968)
• Title: Before You Can Entertain Others
• Medium: 14 colour screenprint with varnish overlay on Somerset tub sized 410gsm paper
• Dimensions: 75 x 56 cm
• Edition: Edition of 125
• Year: 2021
• Publisher: Galleri Nicolai Wallner
• Markings: Signed and numbered on the back