Summary
"Stop & Search" (2007) is a black-and-white spray-stencil screen print in which a fully kitted-out British police officer in riot gear and blue latex gloves rifles through the wicker picnic basket of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, her plaited hair and gingham pinafore intact while Toto sits watching at her feet. By subjecting an icon of innocent American childhood fantasy to a real-world stop-and-search procedure, Banksy collides Hollywood nostalgia with the surveillance-state policing of the post-9/11 / War-on-Terror era — a hallmark of his Art-World Era output on the Police & Surveillance theme.
Why It Matters
The print is one of Banksy's sharpest visual jokes about authority overreach: the absurdity of a heavily armed officer treating a fairy-tale child as a security threat indicts the expansion of stop-and-search powers and counter-terror policing that defined Britain in the mid-2000s. It typifies Banksy's strategy of hijacking beloved pop-culture imagery — here Judy Garland's Dorothy and Toto — to make a political point land harder than a slogan could. The contrast between the soft, hand-drawn texture of Dorothy and the hard mechanical silhouette of the officer reinforces the power imbalance, making this a frequently cited example of Banksy's anti-establishment, anti-surveillance commentary.
Collector Perspective
"Stop & Search" exists as both a signed and an unsigned (or numbered) screen print, with the signed examples commanding a clear premium and the strongest secondary-market demand. The edition size is not documented here, so buyers should confirm the specific edition, numbering, and whether the example is signed or unsigned before purchase, and insist on a Pest Control certificate of authenticity, which is essential for resale of any Banksy print. As a recognizable, image-driven piece on a popular theme, it has steady collector interest, though it sits below Banksy's marquee images (Girl with Balloon, Love Is in the Air) in price and trophy status. Condition — paper tone, handling, and framing — materially affects value given the large areas of bare cream stock.
Historical Context
Released in 2007, the work belongs to the period when Banksy had broken through from street walls into the gallery and print market while keeping his political edge. Its subject speaks directly to mid-2000s Britain, where expanded stop-and-search and counter-terrorism powers (and the surveillance culture that accompanied them) were a live public controversy. By casting Dorothy — the 1939 MGM film's emblem of wide-eyed innocence — as the person being searched, Banksy ties American mythology to British policing anxieties, a characteristic move from his Art-World Era when he increasingly used licensed-feeling pop imagery to critique state authority.
FAQ
What does Stop & Search depict?
A uniformed British police officer in riot gear and blue latex gloves searching the picnic basket of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, who stands in her gingham dress and plaits with her dog Toto sitting beside her — a satire of surveillance-era stop-and-search policing.
What is the edition size?
The edition size is not documented in our records. Banksy issued the image in both signed and unsigned/numbered forms; confirm the exact edition and numbering with the seller before buying.
Is this print signed or unsigned?
Stop & Search was produced in both signed and unsigned variants. Signed examples carry a significant premium. Always verify against the certificate and physical numbering, since signature status drives value.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print, executed in Banksy's spray-stencil visual style, printed in black on cream paper.
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, anti-capitalist, anti-establishment imagery, plus stunts like the self-shredding Girl with Balloon.
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.