“Politeness” is one of eight works in Damien Hirst’s 2021 series, The Virtues, each named after the Bushidō code’s virtues: Justice, Courage, Mercy, Politeness, Honesty, Honour, Loyalty, and Control. This series features vibrant depictions of cherry blossoms, symbolizing the transient beauty of life.

Hirst’s fascination with cherry blossoms dates back to his childhood, inspired by his mother’s paintings and a tree outside his Devon bedroom. In The Virtues, he employs techniques reminiscent of Impressionism, Pointillism, and Action Painting, using thick brushstrokes to capture the blossoms’ ephemeral beauty. He describes the series as exploring “beauty and life and death,” highlighting the “insane transience of beauty” represented by a tree in full bloom against a clear blue sky.

“Politeness” is a laminated Giclée print on aluminum composite panel, measuring 120 x 96 cm. Each piece in the edition is signed and numbered on the reverse, with a total of 1,549 editions produced.