Summary
This screenprint replaces the pistols of Pulp Fiction's hitmen Jules and Vincent (Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta) with ripe yellow bananas, the two black-suited figures frozen mid-aim against a flat black ground in Banksy's signature high-contrast stencil. It is one of the most recognizable images of Banksy's Pictures on Walls era, distilling his habit of disarming pop-culture menace into comedy.
Why It Matters
Pulp Fiction is a clean piece of visual satire: by swapping guns for bananas, Banksy strips two of cinema's most quoted gunmen of their threat, turning an icon of stylized violence into slapstick. It sits squarely within his anti-violence streak, where weapons are repeatedly defused, made absurd, or handed to children. The image also reflects his magpie approach to mass culture, lifting an instantly readable Hollywood frame and editing it just enough to flip its meaning. Banksy reportedly disliked how heavily the gun-and-banana gag was reproduced, which only cemented its status as a defining motif of his early printmaking.
Collector Perspective
The hand-signed Pulp Fiction is genuinely scarce: an edition of just 50 signed impressions makes it one of the smaller signed runs from this period, well below the larger unsigned and AP variants of the same image that circulate more freely. Pencil-signed examples carry a substantial premium over their unsigned counterparts and are among the more sought-after signed Banksy prints when condition and provenance are strong. Pictures on Walls publication is the expected pedigree, and buyers should expect (and insist on) a Pest Control certificate of authenticity, since the unauthenticated POW-era market is heavily faked. Condition is the main value lever here, the white margins and black field both show handling, toning, and ink scuffs readily.
Historical Context
Released in 2004 through Pictures on Walls during Banksy's Stencil Boom era, the print appropriates the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film poster and its central image of Jules and Vincent. The gun-to-banana substitution belongs to a recurring early-2000s Banksy gag (he also produced the reverse, banana-to-gun, versions), made at the moment his gallery-edition prints were beginning to find a serious collector audience. The image predates his later mega-stunts but is from the body of work that built that reputation.
FAQ
What does this Banksy print depict?
It recreates the Pulp Fiction movie image of hitmen Jules and Vincent (Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta) in black suits, firing stance and all, but with their handguns replaced by yellow bananas, set against a flat black background.
How large is the edition?
The signed edition is 50. Larger unsigned editions and artist proofs of the same image also exist, which makes this hand-signed run comparatively scarce.
Is this example signed?
Yes. This is the signed version, hand-signed in pencil by Banksy, which carries a significant premium over the unsigned edition.
What medium and year is it?
It is a screenprint from 2004, published by Pictures on Walls during Banksy's Stencil Boom era.
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-establishment imagery, and for 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.