Summary
CND Soldiers depicts two stencilled combat soldiers in full battle gear, painting a large blood-red CND peace symbol that drips down the sheet above them, while a discarded paint can sits between them. It is one of Banksy's most pointed anti-war images, turning the instruments of war toward the universal peace emblem and inverting the soldier's role from aggressor to protester.
Why It Matters
The print distills Banksy's anti-war politics into a single ironic gesture: helmeted, rifle-carrying soldiers caught in the act of vandalising a wall with the peace sign, the most recognisable symbol of the anti-nuclear and pacifist movements. The dripping red of the CND mark reads simultaneously as fresh paint and as blood, collapsing the line between protest graffiti and the violence soldiers are sent to carry out. Produced in 2005 against the backdrop of the ongoing Iraq War, it captures Banksy at the height of his stencil practice using deadpan visual contradiction rather than slogan to make its point.
Collector Perspective
This is the unsigned edition of CND Soldiers, from a screen print run of 70, published in 2005 through Pictures on Walls. Unsigned examples carry POW provenance and the edition stamp but lack Banksy's hand signature, which places them well below the signed edition (itself issued in a larger run) in value while still being a genuinely scarce, low-number release. As a recognisable anti-war image with strong wall presence, it has steady demand among Banksy collectors, though condition is critical: the cream paper shows handling, foxing, and light-toning readily. Authentication via Pest Control is essential for resale, and as an unsigned print it is not eligible for Pest Control certification, which buyers should weigh.
Historical Context
CND Soldiers references the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament symbol designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958, which became the global peace sign. Banksy issued the print in 2005, during the height of public protest over the Iraq War and the broader War on Terror, a period when much of his output turned explicitly anti-militarist. It sits squarely within his Stencil Boom era, when fast spray-stencil imagery and the Pictures on Walls publishing operation were putting his work into wide circulation. The image of soldiers painting peace, rather than waging war, became one of the signature ironies of this phase of his career.
FAQ
What does CND Soldiers depict?
Two combat soldiers in helmets and full kit are shown painting a large red CND peace symbol on a wall, the paint dripping down the sheet, with a paint can on the ground between them. The soldiers are cast as protesters rather than fighters.
What is the edition size?
This print is from an edition of 70.
Is this print signed?
No. This is the unsigned edition. It carries the Pictures on Walls edition stamp but does not bear Banksy's hand signature, which makes it more affordable and more scarce-numbered than the larger signed edition.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print, made in 2005, in Banksy's spray-stencil-derived style.
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-war, anti-capitalist and anti-establishment imagery, with many prints 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.