Flag (Silver), 2006
Edition: 1,000 unsigned
‘Banksy’s supposed tribute to the normal people whose sacrifices help build a nation but who never get a statue made about them.
You can’t imagine they’re resting any easier in their beds now Banksy’s made a screen-print of them on shiny paper, but never mind.
This is the gold run-out done at the same time as last year’s silver and looks rather smart.’
Flag shows a group of children and young adults standing victoriously atop a burned-out car raising the American flag. The protagonists are portrayed as disenfranchised urban youths. With only one touch of color, represented by a large gold or silver (according to the edition) sun or moon, the scene bears a melancholic and mournful tone. Banksy’s work is a reference to the iconic photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima by American photographer Joe Rosenthal, taken on 23 February 1945. The photo depicts six US Marines lifting the Stars and Stripes atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Children are often a central motif in Banksy‘s work, used to symbolize the future as well as the severity of the issues being addressed. In Flag, as with many of Banksy‘s other works, its context is open to interpretation. One would think that those children represent America’s youth, still ambitious to achieve the American Dream. While others would suggest it might be a comment on the amount of money spent on war, leaving millions of men, women and children unsupported in ghettos, or even a nod to the moon landing.
Flag (Gold), 2006
Edition: 112 signed
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is an iconic photograph of six US Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The photograph, taken by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press was first published in Sunday newspapers and reprinted in thousands of publications. It was the only photograph to win the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in the same year as its publication and was later used for the construction of the Marine Corps War Memorial in 1954, which was dedicated to honor all Marines who died in service since 1775.
The Associated Press has relinquished its copyright to the photograph, placing it in the public domain.
RELEASE HISTORY
Flag comes into two different versions.
Flag (Silver) is the largest edition ever released by Banksy made of 1,000 unsigned prints.
Flag (Gold) was released in 2007, in a much smaller size edition of 112 signed prints.
Banksy also released, in 2008, a version of Flag (Silver) printed on Formica, in an edition of 20 signed prints, and a version of Flag (Gold) printed on Formica in an edition of 23 signed prints.
The Silver Edition was released as part of Banksy’s London Santa’s Ghetto exhibit in December 2006. 23 signed, silver prints were also printed on Formica.
The Gold Edition was released and available only to buyers in person in 2007 at Santa’s Ghetto in Bethlehem. This, too, was given a special edition of 20 that were printed on Formica.
DESCRIPTION
Flag (Silver)
Year: 2006
Medium: Offset lithograph in black on silver metallic paper
Size: 50×70 cm (19 3/4 x 27 1/2 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls
Numbered in ink on verso with the publisher’s blindstamp
Flag (Gold)
Year: 2007
Medium: Screen-print in black and gold on smooth wove metallic paper
Size: 50×70 cm (19 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls
Signed in black felt-tip pen
Editions
Flag (Silver): 1,000 unsigned
Flag (Silver on Formica): 20 signed
Flag (Gold): 112 signed
Flag (Gold on Formica): 23 signed
Artist’s Proof Edition: 20 signed AP given to the Ghetto Crew
AUCTION RESULTS
Updated as of 30 June 2022
1. Flag (Silver)
Flag (Silver), 2006
Numbered 379/1000 in black felt-tip pen on verso with the publisher’s blindstamp
Bonhams London, 27 April 2022
GBP 17,212 / USD 21,687
Flag (Silver), 2006
Numbered 322/1000 in black ink on verso with the publisher’s blindstamp
Sotheby’s online, 18 March 2021
GBP 32,760 / USD 45,536
2. Flag (Gold)
Flag (Gold), 2007
Signed in black pen, lower left
Numbered 60/112 in black pen on verso with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
GBP 50,400 / USD 63,504
Flag (Gold), 2007
Signed in black pen, lower left
Numbered 29/112 in black pen on verso with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s Hong-Kong, 20 April 2021
GBP 70,072 / USD 97,400
3. Other Editions
On 3 March 2022, Bonhams London sold an Artist’s Proof from Flag (Formica-Silver) for GBP 69,000 (USD 93,840).
On 18 March 2021, Sotheby’s online also sold Flag (Formica-Gold) and Flag (Formica-Silver) for
GBP 81,900 (USD 113,841) and GBP 75,600 (USD 105,084) respectively.
Formica Flag (Silver), 2006
Incised with the artist’s signature and inscribed ‘4 Mat, Banksy AP’
An Artist’s Proof aside from the edition of 20
Bonhams London, 3 March 2022
GBP 69,000 / USD 93,840
Flag (Formica – Gold), 2008
Incised with the artist’s signature
Numbered 15 (from the edition of 23)
Sotheby’s online, 18 March 2021
GBP 81,900 / USD 113,841
Flag (Formica – Silver), 2008
Incised with the artist’s signature
Numbered 15 (from the edition of 20)
Sotheby’s online, 18 March 2021
GBP 75,600 / USD 105,084
