Donut (Chocolate), 2009
Edition: 299 signed
Donut features a donut covered in sprinkles sitting on top of a police van, escorted by police officers on motorbikes. The blue and red flashing lights of the police vehicles are among the few splashes of color. Obviously, just like a dignitary, the donut is heavily protected by the police. The convoy with motorbikes evokes the motorcade that traditionally escorts and protects American heads of state. Some have seen reference to Kennedy’s embarrassing blunder when he said: “Ich bin ein Berliner” in a speech during a visit to Berlin, which literally translates into: “I am a donut”. As we will see below, this is a tenacious urban legend that never happened. However, as it is often the case with Banksy’s work, it can be seen as an historical reference as well.
Donut (Strawberry), 2009
Edition: 299 signed
Banksy‘s relationship with law enforcement is obviously a nuanced one, and this topic is a recurring topic within his oeuvre. Donut could be a satirical suggestion that the police would prioritize the safety of their snacks (or their benefits, generally) over the safety of the population they are supposed to protect. Indeed, police officers are often stereotyped and ridiculed in America for their love of donuts, as commonly portrayed on TV and cinema. The artwork parodies this theme, calling into question the ethics and values of law enforcement seemingly protecting what they hold most dear.
Strawberry Donut Original, exhibited at Banksy vs. Bristol Museum, 2009
Alternatively, it could have a broader meaning. If one assumes the donut could be a symbol of American consumerism, then law enforcement clearly appears to be protecting and revering this icon of Western society’s consumerism.
Coming back to the urban legend about Kennedy, and in an effort to clarify historical facts…
“Ich bin Ein Berliner” (“I am a Berliner“) is a famous speech pronounced by US President John F. Kennedy on June 26, 1963, in West Berlin. It is widely regarded as the best-known speech of the Cold War period, and the most famous anti-communist speech. President Kennedy aimed to underline the support of the United States for West Germany, 22 months after the Berlin Wall was erected. It was a great morale boost for West Berliners, who lived in an enclave inside East Germany and feared a possible East German occupation. The message was aimed as much at the Soviets as it was at Berliners and was a clear statement of U.S. policy in the wake of the construction of the Berlin Wall.
Speaking to an audience of 120,000, from a platform erected on the steps of Rathaus Schoneberg, President Kennedy used the phrase twice in his speech, including at the end, pronouncing the sentence with his Boston accent and reading from his note “ish bin ein Bearleener”, which he had written out using English orthography to approximate the German pronunciation.
There is a widespread misconception amongst non-German-speaking countries that the phrase was used incorrectly and actually means “I am a doughnut”. Even though, it is not factually true, it has become something of an urban legend, including equally incorrect claims about the audience’s laugh at Kennedy’s use of the phrase.
RELEASE HISTORY
Donut (Strawberry) then Donut (Chocolate) were each released as editions of 299 signed prints, as reference to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts’ financial troubles in 2007, when it had to shut down 299 stores.
Those prints were made using an exceptionally fine screen to preserve all the cack-handed detail. Due to the high demand for previous Banksy prints, Donut was only made available through an automated reservation service. The computer randomly selected 598 names who were offered first refusal to buy a print. It was stated that the purpose of this system was to give everyone the same opportunity to get a print, to discourage flipping and because the artist insisted on selling items below their alleged market value. A portion of proceeds from this sale went to charitable causes.
DESCRIPTION
Donut
Year: 2009
Medium: Screen-print in colors on Arches wove paper
Size: 56×76 cm (22×30 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls
Editions
Donut (Strawberry): 299 signed
Donut (Chocolate): 299 signed
Hand-finished Edition: 25 signed hand-finished
Signature and Numbering
Donut (Strawberry)
Signed and numbered /299 in pink crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Donut (Chocolate)
Signed and Numbered /299 in brown crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
AUCTION RESULTS
Updated as of 1 August 2023
1. Donut (Chocolate)
Christie’s online: 14 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 56,700 / USD 69,741
Donuts (Chocolate), 2009
Signed and numbered 187/299 in brown crayon, with the artist’s blind stamp, lower left
———–
Sotheby’s online: 27 August 2022
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 50,400 / USD 60,480
Donuts Chocolate, 2009
Signed in brown crayon, lower left
Numbered 162/299 in brown crayon, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
———
Sotheby’s online: 26 April 2022
GBP 69,300 / USD 87,318
Donut (Chocolate), 2009
Signed in brown crayon, lower left
Numbered 189/299 in brown crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
———
Christie’s online: 15 March 2022
GBP 88,200 / USD 116,424
Donut (Chocolate), 2009
Signed in brown crayon, lower left
Numbered 272/299 in brown crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
———-
Christie’s online: 23 September 2021
GBP 50,000 / USD 69,500
Donut (Chocolate), 2009
Signed in brown crayon, lower left
Numbered 183/299 in brown crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
———-
Sotheby’s New-York: 23 July 2021
GBP 63,453 / USD 88,200
Donut (Chocolate), 2009
Signed in brown crayon, lower left
Numbered 105/299 in brown crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
———–
Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
GBP 100,800 / USD 140,112
Donut (Chocolate), 2009
Signed in brown crayon, lower left
Numbered 280/299 in brown crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
2. Donut (Strawberry)
Forum Auctions: 24 May 2023
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 40,000
Hammer: GBP 34,000
GBP 45,560 / USD 56,344
Donut (Strawberry), 2009
Signed in pink crayon, lower right
Numbered in pencil from the edition of 299
———-
Bonhams London: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 35,000 – 50,000
GBP 31,800 / USD 39,148
Donuts (Strawberry), 2009
Signed and numbered 224/299 in pink crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
———-
Forum Auctions: 31 January 2023
GBP 46,900 / USD 57,687
Donut (Strawberry), 2009
Signed in pink crayon, lower left
Numbered in pink crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
———-
Bonhams London: 13 December 2022
GBP 29,595 / USD 36,622
GBP 29,595 / USD 36,622
Donuts (Strawberry), 2009
Signed and numbered 281/299 in pink crayon, the signature faded
———-
Bonhams London: 11 November 2021
GBP 69,000 / USD 93,150
Donut (Strawberry), 2009
Signed in pink crayon, lower left
Numbered 132/299 in pink crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
———-
Phillips Hong-Kong: 7 June 2021
GBP 74,648 / USD 106,000
Donut (Strawberry), 2009
Signed in pink crayon, lower left
Numbered 55/299 in pink crayon with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
3. Hand-Finished (VIP Edition)
Sotheby’s online: 26 April 2022
GBP 277,200 / USD 349,272
Hand-Finished Donut (Strawberry), 2009
Unique screen-print in colors with hand-coloring
Unique screen-print in colors with hand-coloring
Signed in pink crayon with the artist’s heart annotation, lower left
