Laura G, Sassy 70’s<p>By Banksy (b. 1974), “Girl With Balloon,” Colour AP (Dark Pink), screenprint on paper, 69.7 by 49.9 cm. (27⅜ by 19⅝ in.), photo: Sotheby’s London, 30 June 2022. <a href="https://deacon.social/tags/art" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>art</span></a> <a href="https://deacon.social/tags/arthistory" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>arthistory</span></a> <a href="https://deacon.social/tags/printmaking" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>printmaking</span></a> <a href="https://deacon.social/tags/screenprint" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>screenprint</span></a></p><p>Quote from the artist: “Imagine a city where graffiti wasn't illegal, a city where everybody could draw whatever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colours and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the estate agents and barons of big businesses. Imagine a city like that and stop leaning against the wall - it's wet."</p><p>From the catalogue note: “Banksy’s iconic Girl with Balloon is one of the most widely recognizable images in existence. One of only 88 artist’s proofs printed in different colours, this screenprint featuring the rare pink balloon is a highly coveted variant of the artist’s most celebrated motif.</p><p>Banksy has received international praise for his distinctive style of satirical street art. His work is rich in dark humour and frequently carries subversive epigrams or symbolic allusions that provide poignant and potent commentaries on contemporary society. Girl with Balloon depicts a child reaching for a heart shaped balloon which has floated out of her grasp. As is typical of Banksy, the illustration is ambiguous, conveying both a sense of hope or joy and a sad sense of melancholy and loss. Indeed, is the girl chasing the balloon - a vibrant emblem of childhood play - or has she let it slip through her fingers and watches it drift into oblivion - a metaphor, perhaps, for the inevitable loss of innocence.”</p>