Stop & Search
- Medium:
- Print — Screenprint in colours on Arches wove paper
- Size:
- 76.5 × 57.5 cm
- Year:
- 2007
In Stop & Search, Banksy reimagines a moment of innocence under suspicion. The print shows Dorothy (from The Wizard of Oz) and her loyal dog Toto, as a police officer clad in riot gear, wearing bright blue latex gloves—the only colour in the otherwise monochrome scene—searches Dorothy’s basket.
Dorothy’s posture and expression are tense and apprehensive, highlighting the contradiction between her perceived innocence and the invasive suspicion cast upon her. Toto sits by, small and alert, reinforcing Dorothy’s vulnerability. The officer, serious, dominant, emblematic of institutional power, scrutinises what is meant to be harmless.
About the Artist
Banksy
b. 1974 | British
Banksy is the anonymous British street artist renowned for his provocative and politically charged works. Combining satire, humour, and social commentary, his instantly recognisable stencil-based artworks challenge authority, consumerism, and contemporary culture. Banksy remains one of the most influential and celebrated figures in contemporary art.
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