Blek Le Rat (1951) - The King

The King, 2023 by Blek Le Rat

Year: 2023

Edition: 300

Material: 2 Colour screen print on 300gsm Arches paper

Dimensions: 230 x 310 mm

Certificate: Comes with a certificate of authenticity by the artist.

The King of Rats is none other than Blek le Rat, a highly respected artist in the world of street art. His iconic stencilled rats have been gracing the streets of Paris since 1981, and his influence has been acknowledged by none other than Banksy himself. Banksy has even confessed that he often finds that Blek le Rat had already created something similar before him, which speaks to the power of Blek le Rat’s art.

Blek le Rat’s monochromatic stencils and irreverent riffs on pop culture and art history have greatly influenced contemporary street art. While Blek le Rat—whose real name is Xavier Prou—has produced stylized depictions of iconic figures such as the Mona Lisa and Princess Diana, he is best known for his signature stenciled rats, which began to appear around Paris in the 1980s. The French artist’s work is inspired by the compositions of Old Masters such as Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Guido Reni, and Leonardo da Vinci. His street art has appeared in cities across the world, and he has exhibited in New York, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, and beyond. Blek le Rat’s recent output demonstrates a keen social engagement and focuses on issues of homelessness and marginalization in urban spaces.


Print will be sent with registered and insured mail