Summary
Trolleys (On End Paper) depicts three prehistoric-looking hunters in mid-attack — one swinging a club overhead, another crouched, a third lunging with a spear — converging not on prey but on three abandoned wire supermarket shopping trolleys scattered across a grassy plain under an open sky. Banksy collapses Stone Age survival and modern consumerism into a single image, presenting the shopping cart as the absurd quarry of the contemporary hunter-gatherer.
Why It Matters
The print is one of Banksy's sharpest visual jokes about consumerism: by casting the supermarket trolley — the everyday vehicle of acquisition — as wild game stalked by spear-wielding cavemen, he frames shopping itself as a primal, instinctual hunt that has barely evolved. The juxtaposition of stencilled primitive figures against an idyllic painterly landscape (open blue sky, golden field) sharpens the satire, suggesting the consumer impulse is hardwired rather than civilised. It sits squarely in his anti-capitalist body of work and remains one of his most quoted "the trolley as prey" compositions, later echoed in his larger Trolley Hunters canvas.
Collector Perspective
This is a genuinely scarce edition — 56 prints — far smaller than the multi-hundred runs of Banksy's better-known POW screen prints, which underpins its desirability among serious collectors. The "On End Paper" designation refers to the heavier decorative end paper stock this variant was printed on, distinguishing it from the standard release and giving it a distinct collecting identity. As with all Banksy works, signed examples command a substantial premium over unsigned, and condition, authentication (Pest Control), and full provenance are decisive for value. Given the low edition size and the strength of the Trolleys image within the consumerism theme, it occupies a respectable mid-to-upper position in the screen-print market rather than the very top tier reserved for Girl with Balloon or Love Is in the Air.
Historical Context
Produced in 2007, the print belongs to Banksy's Art-World Era, the period when his market exploded and his consumerism critique was at its most pointed — the same window that produced works like Morons and Festival (Destroy Capitalism). The Trolleys motif directly satirises Western consumer culture by equating the supermarket cart with hunted prey, a recurring idea Banksy developed into a major canvas, Trolley Hunters, which later became one of his most valuable paintings at auction. The image's "cavemen vs. shopping carts" gag reflects the mid-2000s climate of accelerating retail consumption that Banksy repeatedly targeted.
FAQ
What does Trolleys (On End Paper) depict?
Three primitive, caveman-like hunters — one swinging a club, one crouching, one thrusting a spear — attacking three abandoned wire supermarket shopping trolleys scattered across a grassy field under an open blue sky, equating modern shopping with a primal hunt.
What is the edition size?
The edition is just 56 prints, making it considerably scarcer than most of Banksy's mainstream screen-print releases.
What does 'On End Paper' mean?
It refers to the specific heavier decorative end paper stock this variant was printed on, distinguishing it from the standard paper release of the Trolleys image.
Is this print signed?
The title does not specify, so examples exist in both signed and unsigned forms; signed copies carry a significant premium, and any example should be authenticated by Banksy's Pest Control office.
What is the medium?
It is a screen print (silkscreen) produced in 2007.
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 humour, and anti-capitalist, anti-establishment imagery, with prints historically published through Pictures on Walls.
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.