Printed on paper, Banksy Sale Ends’ artwork is a color screenprint from the LA Edition of 2006. The Sale Ends screenprint belongs to the Barely Legal print set, which takes its name from the 2006 Los Angeles exhibition of the same name.
All the artworks belonging to the Barely Legal set are not signed and Banksy has replicated them in 500 copies. The works of the Barely Legal set are sold all together.
The explanation of the composition of the meaning of Banksy Sale Ends Today‘s artwork takes the form of a critique of today’s consumerism in society.
The composition of the image, if carefully observed, recalls the structure of a pyramid. The sides are made up of the outstretched arms of the women who rise towards the sign while the base is made up of uneven asphalt.
This asphalt is similar to quicksand, which slowly sucks in and causes kneeling subjects to sink.
The reason for all this despair lies at the top of the pyramid: the end of sales is announced by the cartel for today (Sale Ends Today).
In the Sale Ends Today screen printing, Banksy expresses his cutting and satirical genius, denouncing modern consumerism.
Banksy‘s criticism is in fact addressed to all people who buy items they don’t really need to satisfy their thirst to buy.
Banksy thus examines the rampant consumerism of today, through the combination of Renaissance icons and direct slogans.
Banksy’s analysis takes shape in an almost religious fervor with which today’s materialistic society looks at consumerism, the true idol.