“They exist without permission. They are hated, hunted and persecuted. They live in quiet desperation amongst the filth. And yet they are capable of bringing entire civilizations to their knees. If you are dirty, insignificant and unloved then rats are the ultimate role model.” 

Rat with Scalpel exemplifies one of Banksy’s signature motifs through a striking and graphic portrayal. The rat, a recurring symbol in Banksy’s oeuvre, represents marginalized and forgotten individuals in society. The fittingly named Pest Control Office handles the artist’s affairs and is another allusion to the vermin frequently featured in his work. The stencil for Rat with Scalpel was originally created and displayed near the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2018 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1968 demonstrations against President Charles de Gaulle. In 2019, the mural outside the Centre Pompidou was removed, stolen, and remains missing.

Banksy’s bold and recognizable stencil work combines a sharp awareness of contemporary socio-political issues with a distinctive visual style, elevating him from an outsider street artist to one of the most significant political and cultural voices of the 21st Century. His early encounters with law enforcement led him to adopt stenciling as his primary technique, allowing for rapid execution while preserving his anonymity. Rat with Scalpel stands as a representative example of Banksy’s most influential public stencil works, encapsulating both his artistic ingenuity and his engagement with political discourse.