Get Out While You Can is an iconic piece in Banksy's Placard Rat series-a trilogy of screen prints released in 2004, each featuring the artist's iconic rat holding up a placard with the title of the work. The other two prints in the series are Welcome to Hell and Because I'm Worthless.
The inspiration for the series comes from Get Out While You Can, a book by George Marshall that delves into how to escape the "salary slavery" and "rat race" of modern life. The rat, which is also a clever and daring anagram for "art," evolved into a signature symbol-almost an alter ego-for Banksy.
In Get Out While You Can, the rat stands upright on two feet, adopting a human-like posture, and holds a placard that boldly proclaims the title of the work in red lettering. The "humanimal" wears a peace sign necklace, adding layers of irony to its seemingly rebellious stance. The clash between the menacing threat and the serene peace sign creates a striking duality - a hallmark of Banksy's work. The blood-red splatter around the lettering evokes violence and societal unrest, amplifying the stark