The Gleaners, 2009
Oil on canvas
152×165 cm (60×65 inches)
Unique
Exhibited
Banksy vs. Bristol Museum, Bristol Museum, Bristol, 2009
The Painting is a unique example within Banksy’s oeuvre, as it relates to two earlier series known
as “Remixed Masterpieces” which were inspired by well-known works by artists, including Claude
Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Andy Warhol, as well as “Modified Oils,” which consist of oil paintings or reproductions that were sourced from flea markets around London and altered primarily through overpainting.
as “Remixed Masterpieces” which were inspired by well-known works by artists, including Claude
Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Andy Warhol, as well as “Modified Oils,” which consist of oil paintings or reproductions that were sourced from flea markets around London and altered primarily through overpainting.
The subject of the Painting is based on French artist Jean-François Millet’s 1857 masterpiece
The Gleaners, currently in the collection of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Banksy appropriated
a reproduction of Millet’s original composition and “modified” it by cutting out one of the figures. He then hand painted his own version of the cut-out figure who casually smokes a cigarette while looking away from the viewer, which is affixed to the frame. In his contemporary reworking, Banksy employs his characteristically provocative style to address socio-political themes, while simultaneously commenting on established art historical conventions.
The Gleaners, currently in the collection of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Banksy appropriated
a reproduction of Millet’s original composition and “modified” it by cutting out one of the figures. He then hand painted his own version of the cut-out figure who casually smokes a cigarette while looking away from the viewer, which is affixed to the frame. In his contemporary reworking, Banksy employs his characteristically provocative style to address socio-political themes, while simultaneously commenting on established art historical conventions.
The Painting has a rich exhibition history as it was included in the 2009 exhibition “Banksy versus Bristol Museum,” which attracted over 300,000 visitors and remains the only museum exhibition authorized by the artist. In 2017, the Painting was also featured in a retrospective of Millet’s work, which was mounted at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille, France. The original 1857 work, on which the Painting is based, was also included in the Millet retrospective alongside the Painting.
