Banksy, Rude Copper, unsigned screenprint edition of 250, 2002
When Banksy created the Rude Copper mural, it featured two British police officers, sticking their middle fingers up at the viewer. The duo makes for an incredibly striking and impactful mural on the London street where it first appeared. In 2002, Banksy released Rude Copper as an unsigned print of 250, though in the print only one copper appears. Entirely in black and white and with very little detailing the officer raises his middle finger with an arrogant look upon his face. Interestingly, the officer sports an old fashioned custodian helmet, introduced into the British police force in 1863. Although still worn today, it is largely considered to be the staple of the old ‘Bobby on the Beat’, a local, friendly neighbourhood copper, a sharp contrast to the actions of the officer in the image. Banksy’s scathing opinion of authority and law enforcement can be seen across much of his artwork, and this is no exception.
