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Artworks
Banksy
Barcode (Unsigned), 2004
Screen print on wove paper
70 x 50 cm.
27 1/2 x 19 3/4 in.
27 1/2 x 19 3/4 in.
Edition of 600
Numbered. Unsigned
Pest Control COA
Pest Control COA
£20,000 - £24,000 GBP
First stencilled onto a house in Bristol, the unsigned version of 'Barcode' has become one of Banksy's most sought-after works. Banksy uses monochrome to striking effect, a technique common in...
First stencilled onto a house in Bristol, the unsigned version of "Barcode" has become one of Banksy's most sought-after works. Banksy uses monochrome to striking effect, a technique common in his early prints to emphasise the subject matter. "Barcode" depicts a leopard breaking free from a wheeled cage resembling a barcode, with its bars twisted by the animal's strength. The image of the leopard, menacing and powerful as it strides toward the viewer, starkly contrasts with the mechanical, digital symbolism of the barcode. This juxtaposition suggests nature rebelling against human attempts to confine it. Alternatively, it may imply that we, like the leopard, are trapped within our digital world, striving to break free.
The work combines beauty and danger, confronting the viewer directly with the gaze of the exotic beast. "Barcode" highlights Banksy's talent for embedding profound messages in seemingly simple images, capturing the essence of his provocative and thought-provoking style.
The work combines beauty and danger, confronting the viewer directly with the gaze of the exotic beast. "Barcode" highlights Banksy's talent for embedding profound messages in seemingly simple images, capturing the essence of his provocative and thought-provoking style.