Summary
This print depicts Banksy's appropriation of Nick Ut's Pulitzer-winning 1972 photograph of nine-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc fleeing a napalm strike, now flanked by Mickey Mouse and Ronald McDonald who grin and hold her hands as they march her forward, with a splash of red beneath Ronald's feet. One of Banksy's most blistering anti-war/anti-consumerist statements, it remains among his most recognizable and confrontational images, here in the Serpentine Edition giclee variant.
Why It Matters
"Napalm" is Banksy at his most pointed: he hijacks one of the twentieth century's defining images of wartime atrocity and yokes it to America's two most exported corporate mascots, arguing that Western consumer culture and military violence are sold from the same counter. The collision of a smiling Disney icon and a fast-food clown escorting a screaming, burned child renders the cheerfulness obscene, and the lone bloom of red paint at Ronald's feet is the only color in an otherwise black-and-white scene. It is a thesis statement for Banksy's twin obsessions with militarism and capitalism, and one of the works most often cited when his political seriousness is discussed.
Collector Perspective
"Napalm" is a cornerstone Banksy image, and the original Pictures on Walls screenprint runs (signed and unsigned, released around 2004-2006) are among the more sought-after political prints in the catalogue. This entry is the Serpentine Edition giclee, a distinct variant tied to a Serpentine Gallery context rather than the standard POW screenprint; collectors should confirm exactly which release a given example belongs to, as edition size, signature status, and pricing differ sharply between the screenprint and giclee variants. With the edition size unrecorded here, buyers should verify the print run, whether the example is signed or unsigned, and supporting provenance/authentication (Pest Control documentation is the market standard) before assigning value. The image itself carries strong demand; condition, edition, and paperwork drive the spread.
Historical Context
The source image is "The Terror of War," Associated Press photographer Nick Ut's June 1972 photograph from Trang Bang during the Vietnam War, showing children fleeing a South Vietnamese napalm strike. Banksy produced "Napalm" / "Can't Beat The Feeling" in the early-to-mid 2000s (this giclee dated 2006), during his Stencil Boom Era when his anti-war work sharpened against the backdrop of the Iraq War and rising anti-globalization sentiment. The title riffs on Coca-Cola's "Can't Beat The Feeling" advertising slogan, binding the imagery of war to the language of brand marketing.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
It shows the girl from Nick Ut's 1972 Vietnam War napalm photograph being marched forward hand-in-hand by Mickey Mouse and Ronald McDonald, both grinning, with a splash of red paint at Ronald's feet. The whole scene is black and white except for that red.
Why is it called 'Can't Beat The Feeling'?
The title borrows Coca-Cola's old advertising slogan, deliberately pairing the upbeat language of brand marketing with an image of wartime suffering to skewer consumer culture.
What is the edition size?
The edition size for this Serpentine Edition giclee is not recorded in our data. Buyers should confirm the run, and whether the example is signed or unsigned, with the seller and supporting documentation.
What medium is this?
This is a giclee print dated 2006, the Serpentine Edition variant. It is distinct from the original Pictures on Walls screenprint version of the same image, which collectors should not conflate.
Who is Banksy?
Banksy is an anonymous England-based street artist who emerged from Bristol in the early 1990s, known for fast stencil work, dark humor, and anti-war, anti-capitalist, and anti-establishment imagery.
About the Artist
Banksy is an anonymous England-based street artist, political activist and film director whose identity remains officially unconfirmed. Emerging from the Bristol underground scene in the early 1990s, he developed a fast, stencil-based technique for working in public space, pairing dark humour with anti-war, anti-capitalist and anti-establishment messages. Recurring motifs include rats, monkeys, riot police, and children with balloons or weapons. Many of his prints were published through Pictures on Walls and rank among the most heavily traded in the secondary market, while stunts such as the self-shredding Girl with Balloon, the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem and the Gross Domestic Product homeware line have made him one of the most recognised artists in the world.
Collecting Banksy at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic Banksy prints?
Gauntlet Gallery offers an extensive, authenticated inventory of Banksy prints and contemporary editions, with new drops added regularly. Browse the current collection at gauntlet.gallery.
How does Gauntlet Gallery ensure authenticity?
Gauntlet Gallery is built on curation, authenticity and transparency — every work is vetted and its provenance, edition details and condition are disclosed up front.
Does Gauntlet Gallery add new Banksy prints?
Yes. New drops are released regularly across Banksy and other leading artists; see gauntlet.gallery for the latest inventory.