Summary
A black stencilled rat stands upright wearing a CND peace-sign medallion around its neck, holding a placard that reads "GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN" in dripping red hand-lettering. One of Banksy's signature rat works from his peak Pictures on Walls period, it fuses his most enduring motif with an anti-war/anti-establishment slogan delivered as urban graffiti caught mid-act.
Why It Matters
The rat is Banksy's self-acknowledged alter ego and the most recurrent character in his vocabulary, a near-anagram of "art" and a stand-in for the overlooked, marginalised urban underclass that scurries through the city. Here the rat is politicised: the CND peace medallion and the red protest-placard slogan turn it into an anti-war agitator, situating the print squarely in the climate of mid-2000s opposition to the Iraq War. The "Get Out While You Can" message reads simultaneously as a warning to the establishment and a sardonic nod to the viewer, embodying the dark humour and protest-as-vandalism ethos that defines Banksy's stencil work.
Collector Perspective
This is the unsigned edition from a total run of 50, making it one of the scarcer rat prints by edition size, though the unsigned status places it below its signed counterpart in value and demand. Released through Pictures on Walls, Banksy's own publishing house, gives it solid period provenance, and authentication via Pest Control is the key factor for any sale at this level. Among collectors the rat subjects are perennially liquid, but buyers should expect condition, COA, and signed-versus-unsigned distinction to drive price heavily; an unsigned example trades as a more accessible entry point into a small-edition early work rather than a blue-chip signed piece.
Historical Context
Produced in 2004 at the height of Banksy's Stencil Boom era, when his fast street-stencil technique was crossing over into the print market via Pictures on Walls. The work belongs to a wave of rat-based images Banksy was deploying across Bristol and London walls in the early-to-mid 2000s. Its CND symbol and protest placard align it with the broad anti-war sentiment of the period following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, recasting the humble street rat as a placard-carrying demonstrator.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
An upright black stencilled rat wearing a CND peace-sign medallion, holding a placard with the dripping red slogan GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN.
How large is the edition?
The edition size is 50.
Is this print signed?
No. This is the unsigned edition, which sits below the signed version in market value; authentication is typically handled through Banksy's Pest Control.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print (screenprint), produced in 2004 and published through Pictures on Walls.
Who is Banksy?
Banksy is the anonymous England-based street artist who emerged from Bristol in the early 1990s, known for fast stencil work, dark humour, and anti-war and anti-establishment imagery including his recurring rat motif.
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.