Royal Courts of Justice

A wigged judge looms over a fallen protester in this striking black and white stencil by Banksy, the street artist whose real identity remains a closely guarded secret. The judge swings his gavel like a club, bringing it down on a helpless figure who lies on the ground with hands raised in defense. Everything is painted in cold grays and blacks except for one detail: a splash of bright red blood, which yanks your attention right to the brutal act at the center of the scene. Created in 2004, the work drips with the sharp humor and dark edge that made Banksy a household name.

The meaning lands with a punch. By showing a symbol of law and fairness turned into a weapon, Banksy suggests that the systems built to protect us can just as easily be used to crush the powerless. It is a jab at authority and how those at the top sometimes turn their strength against the very people they are meant to serve. His method stays deliberately plain, leaning on crisp silhouettes and that one jolt of color to say everything it needs to. No art degree required to catch the message, and that straightforwardness is a big part of why his work speaks to so many people worldwide.