David Shrigley, I Am Deep In Thought, 2003

I Am Deep In Thought (2003) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

I Am Deep In Thought (2003) is a compelling David Shrigley C-print on paper that captures the artist's signature blend of existential dread and deadpan comedy through photographic staging. The composition features a small, scruffy taxidermied dog positioned on polished wooden floorboards, sitting quietly beside a crude hand-drawn sign. Rendered in warm brown tones and muted creams, the photograph relies on stark, unvarnished gallery lighting to emphasise the static nature of the subject.

By pairing the inert, frozen figure of the dog with the titular text, the work evokes a profound sense of melancholy that underlies much of the artist's early production. The contrast between the animal's lifeless expression and the complex cognitive state asserted by the sign highlights the tragicomic absurdity of human projections. It is this tension between silent physical reality and desperate internal longing that elevates the piece beyond simple caricature.

David Shrigley

Nominated for the Turner Prize in 2013, Shrigley has secured a singular position in contemporary British art through his celebrated public commissions and exhibitions. His acclaimed Fourth Plinth commission in Trafalgar Square and regular inclusion in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition underscore his widespread institutional validation. Today, his works are held in premier public collections worldwide, including Tate in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Although widely celebrated for his graphic drawings, the artist frequently utilises photography and printmaking to expand his conceptual vocabulary. Every David Shrigley print translates the raw immediacy of his sketchbook entries into permanent, highly collectible editions that preserve his distinct handwriting and ink-wash textures. This cross-disciplinary approach allows his deceptively simple ideas to command significant graphic authority within a gallery setting.

Screenprint Process

While his later graphic works heavily rely on the traditional screenprint process using multiple colour layers on heavy Somerset paper, this early C-print highlights a different facet of his physical fabrication. The chromogenic printing method employs light-sensitive paper to capture the rich tonal gradations of the taxidermy fur and the subtle texture of the paper sign. This photographic approach delivers a depth of field and a glossy finish that differs markedly from the flat ink application characteristic of a standard screenprint.

Despite the photographic medium, the hand-drawn sign within the frame retains the spontaneous, raw ink lines that collectors associate with a classic David Shrigley limited edition print. Published in 2003 by Stephen Friedman Gallery, the edition bridges the gap between sculptural installation, photography, and graphic art. This hybrid approach ensures that the immediate, intimate energy of the artist's original pen strokes is preserved with exceptional fidelity.

Collectability

Early photographic editions by the artist have generated sustained collector interest due to their scarcity and pivotal role in his early career. Works featuring taxidermy motifs and handwritten signs represent highly recognisable imagery that defined his breakthrough period in the late nineties and early noughties. These early experiments laid the conceptual foundation for the dry, observational style that would later make him a household name.

Representing an important example from his celebrated 2003 institutional period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of the artist's early editioned work. Given the modest edition size of just 100, examples of I Am Deep In Thought rarely appear on the secondary market, driving continued appeal among dedicated collectors. Its historical placement at the turn of the millennium makes it a foundational acquisition for any comprehensive collection of contemporary British humour.