David Shrigley, Small Print, 2022

Small Print (2022) – David Shrigley Linocut

About the Work

Small Print (2022) is a compelling linocut release that showcases David Shrigley's mastery of text-based art, presenting a monochromatic, stark black composition on crisp white paper. The work features the words "Small Print" hand-carved in block capitals, surrounded by a dense, textured black background that highlights the raw, organic edges of the carved linoleum block. Measuring a mere 10.5 by 10.5 centimetres, the physical scale of the piece directly mirrors its literal title, subverting the traditional legal warning into a tactile artistic object.

By literalising a common idiom, the work engages with a sense of structural absurdity that dominates modern bureaucratic life. The deliberate imperfections of the hand-carved lettering contrast with the institutional authority usually associated with contractual fine print, deflecting anxiety through quiet humour.

David Shrigley

As a Turner Prize nominee and the creator of the celebrated Fourth Plinth commission Really Good, David Shrigley occupies a singular position in contemporary British art. His work is held in prestigious public collections worldwide, including Tate and the British Council, and his regular contributions to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition have secured his status as a defining voice of his generation.

His printmaking practice successfully translates the immediate, spontaneous energy of his ink drawings into more permanent, graphic mediums. While best known to some collectors for his large-scale colour screenprint editions, this intimate monochrome work demonstrates the same sharp satirical edge that defines every David Shrigley print.

Screenprint Process

Utilising the tactile qualities of heavy 300gsm Somerset paper, the printmaker relies on physical relief carving rather than the layered stencil application of a screenprint to achieve its deep, rich ink coverage. This direct transfer of ink captures the minute textures of the carved block, ensuring that each impression holds a raw graphic quality that feels exceptionally personal.

Published by Stephen Friedman Gallery, this David Shrigley limited edition print exemplifies the high-quality production standards maintained across the artist's graphic archive.

Collectability

The demand for the artist's text-based compositions remains exceptionally robust, reflecting sustained collector interest in his most direct and recognisable conceptual statements. This particular work offers an intimate entry point into his oeuvre, appealing to seasoned patrons who appreciate his ongoing dialogue with language and form.

Representing an important text piece from his 2022 output, this work remains a particularly desirable example of his graphic work. With a restricted edition of only 100, the scarce nature of Small Print ensures its enduring appeal within a highly active secondary market.