Banksy b. 28 July 1974
Napalm (Unsigned), 2004
Screenprint on paper
50 x 70 cm
19 69/100 x 27 14/25 in.
19 69/100 x 27 14/25 in.
Napalm (Unsigned) is a powerful and unsettling artwork by Banksy, first released in 2004. The image reinterprets one of the most haunting photographs of the 20th century — the infamous...
Napalm (Unsigned) is a powerful and unsettling artwork by Banksy, first released in 2004. The image reinterprets one of the most haunting photographs of the 20th century — the infamous Vietnam War photo of Phan Thi Kim Phuc, the young girl running naked after a napalm attack. In Banksy’s version, she is placed between two smiling icons of Western consumerism: Ronald McDonald and Mickey Mouse.
This disturbing juxtaposition highlights the contrast between innocence and corporate control, trauma and entertainment. While the original photo captured the horrors of war, Banksy’s version critiques how such suffering is often overshadowed or trivialized by capitalist culture and media spectacle.
Printed in high-contrast black and white, the figures stand out with haunting clarity. The piece is a direct commentary on American imperialism, corporate dominance, and society’s desensitization to violence.
This disturbing juxtaposition highlights the contrast between innocence and corporate control, trauma and entertainment. While the original photo captured the horrors of war, Banksy’s version critiques how such suffering is often overshadowed or trivialized by capitalist culture and media spectacle.
Printed in high-contrast black and white, the figures stand out with haunting clarity. The piece is a direct commentary on American imperialism, corporate dominance, and society’s desensitization to violence.