Share on twitter
Share on facebook
Share on pinterest
Share on email

I Fought The Law, 2004

BY
I Fought The Law, 2004
Editions: 150 signed, 500 unsigned

‘I Fought The Law and I Won…’

I Fought the Law, also known as IFTL, is based on a video footage of John Hinckley’s 1981 failed assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan. In a violent struggle, one man is being pinned. The man on the ground has dropped a paintbrush, with which he has just scrawled the words “I Fought The Law And I Won” in bright orange paint on the wall behind. In Banksy’s version, the criminal is a graffiti artist, instead of a killer.
 
As usually the case in Banksy’s artworks, several interpretations are possible… One the one hand, those who rise above the law and fight protocol, are invariably knocked down by law enforcement or some authority in charge. Alternatively, it could be seen that, despite getting caught, the graffiti artist had already won – by writing on the wall, he had succeeded in getting his message out there despite what happened next.

Shooting a President: The Reagan Assassination Attempt Explained

 

I Fought the Law is controversial and overtly anti-authoritarian, condemning the violence of the authorities and calling for acts of rebellion. It clearly suggests that street artists are considered to be serious criminals in the eyes of the law and are treated as such. The artist arguably positions himself in the place of Hinckley on the ground, substituting his firearm for a paintbrush. The text references the title of the song I Fought The Law (and The Law Won) by The Clash from 1979.

 

DESCRIPTION

I Fought The Law

Year: 2004
Medium: Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Size: 70×70 cm (27 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

Editions

Signed Edition: 150
Unsigned Edition: 500

Colorways Editions
Orange AP: 8 signed AP
Pink AP: 8 signed AP
Red AP: 8 signed AP
Yellow AP: 8 signed AP
Silver AP: Size Unknown
Uncut AP: 26 signed AP (various colorways)

COLORWAYS

I Fought The Law (Orange AP), 2004
Edition: 8 signed AP

I Fought The Law (Red AP), 2004
Edition: 8 signed AP

I Fought The Law (Yellow AP), 2004
Edition: 8 signed AP

I Fought The Law (Pink AP), 2004
Edition: 8 signed AP

I Fought The Law (Silver AP), 2004

Edition: Unknown

AUCTION RESULTS

Updated as of 15 March 2023

 

 

1. I Fought The Law (unsigned)

 

Sotheby’s online: 20 April 2023
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 22,860 / USD 28,457

I Fought the Law (unsigned), 2004
Numbered 237/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

———–

Sotheby’s online: 26 April 2022
GBP 25,200 / USD 31,752

I Fought The Law (unsigned), 2004
Numbered 134/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right
 ———-
Phillips Hong-Kong: 29 November 2021

GBP 21,701 / USD 29,079

I Fought The Law (unsigned), 2004
Numbered 440/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
 ———
Sotheby’s online: 17 September 2021

GBP 35,280 / USD 49,039

I Fought The Law (unsigned), 2004
Numbered 204/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

 

I Fought The Law (unsigned), 2004
Numbered 113/500 in pencil, lower right
Bonhams London: 28 April 2021
GBP 22,250 / USD 30,928


2. I Fought The Law (signed)

 

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 26,000 – 30,000
GBP 32,500 / USD 40,009

I Fought The Law (signed), 2004
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered from the edition of 150

———-

Forum Auctions: 3 March 2022

GBP 60,300 / USD 82,008

I Fought The Law (signed), 2004
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Inscribed AP/04 in pencil, lower right
Dedicated to FRANK in pencil, lower left

 

I Fought The Law (signed), 2004
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 110/150 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Christie’s online: 23 September 2021

GBP 50,000 / USD 69,500

I Fought The Law (signed), 2004
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 10/150 in pencil, lower right
Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021

GBP 56,700 / USD 78,813

 

3. Colorways

 

 

I Fought The Law (Red AP), 2004
Signed “BANKSY!” and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 6/8 in pencil, lower left
Christie’s online: 1 April 2021
GBP 125,000 / USD 172,500
I Fought The Law (Signed AP), 2004
Signed and Numbered from an edition of 71 APs
Tate Ward Auctions: 9 December 2020
GBP 93,750 / USD 125,625

Gallery

More like this