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Flag, 2006-2007

BY

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 15 March 2023

 

1. Flag (Silver)

 

 

Flag (Silver), 2006
Numbered 648/1000 in black felt pen on the reverse with the publisher’s blindstamp
Christie’s online: 14 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 13,860 / USD 17,048

Flag (Silver), 2006
Numbered 454/1000 in ink on reverse
Heritage Auctions: 28 July 2022
USD 22,500

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)

 

 

Gold Flag, 2007
Signed in felt-tip pen (lower right
Numbered 40/112 with the blindstamp of the publisher (on the verso)
Sotheby’s New-York: 3 October 2022
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 44,100

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

Flag (Formica-Silver), 2006
Bonhams London: 3 March 2022
GBP 69,000 / USD 93,840

Flag (Formica-Gold), 2008
Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
GBP 81,900 / USD 113,841

Flag (Formica-Silver), 2008
Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
GBP 75,600 / USD 105,084

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

Gallery

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