Wrong War
Wrong War
Signed Print
Banksy
£28,000-£40,000 VALUE (EST.)
$50,000-$70,000 VALUE (EST.)
$45,000-$70,000 VALUE (EST.)
¥240,000-¥340,000 VALUE (EST.)
€30,000-€45,000 VALUE (EST.)
$270,000-$390,000 VALUE (EST.)
¥4,530,000-¥6,470,000 VALUE (EST.)
$35,000-$50,000 VALUE (EST.)
This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
Screenprint, 2004
Signed Print Edition of 100
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Joe Syer, Head of Urban & Contemporary Art
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Artwork | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2020 | Tate Ward Auctions - United Kingdom | Wrong War - Signed Print | |||
| June 2016 | Digard - France | Wrong War - Signed Print | |||
| November 2015 | Bonhams New York - United States | Wrong War - Signed Print | |||
| January 2015 | Bonhams New Bond Street - United Kingdom | Wrong War - Signed Print | |||
| September 2012 | Christie's London - United Kingdom | Wrong War - Signed Print | |||
| October 2008 | Sotheby's Online - United Kingdom | Wrong War - Signed Print |
Meaning & Analysis
Banksy's 2004 Wrong War screen-print, from a signed edition of 100, on brown card features a cloaked figure holding a scythe, reminiscent of the Grim Reaper, with a yellow smiley face replacing the Reaper's. Banksy's message is clear with the spray-painted words "wrong war" in red, invoking the bloodshed of contemporary war.
Produced in an edition size of 100 the print shows a cloaked figure holding a scythe. The figure resembles images of the Grim Reaper, however Banksy comically replaces the Grim Reaper’s face with a yellow smiley face. In red block capitals, Banksy writes ‘wrong war’ in red spray paint. The dripping spray paint is reminiscent of dripping blood which alludes to the blood unnecessarily spilt in modern wars.
The image was created using a stencil and spray paint. Banksy started his artistic career producing freehand graffiti drawings, however the artist turned towards the stencil technique in the 1990s in order to shorten the time it took him to produce artworks, which was vital as many of the works Banksy produced in public spaces were illegal. As an artist whose identity remains a mystery, the stencil technique has enabled Banksy to evade being seen by members of the public and also avoid being caught by the police.
Wrong War is part of a collection of mixed media artworks, Pax Britannica. Pax Britannica is a portfolio of 22 prints, all of various media and made using different papers. Each print is signed and comes in an edition size of 100. The prints were published by Aquarium Gallery in London in their original black portfolio box.
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