Blek le Rat: Frédéric Chopin (2020)
This striking work, sometimes referred to as "Chopin in Trainers," captures a rare intersection between classical history and contemporary digital culture. Released in 2020, the piece was directly inspired by a viral 3D artistic rendering of Chopin’s face created by artist Hadi Karimi earlier that year. Blek le Rat responded to this digital "resurrection" by giving the 19th-century composer a 21st-century "uniform" for the street.
Artist: Blek le Rat (Xavier Prou, French b. 1951)
Title: Frédéric Chopin
Release Date: November 6, 2020 (Self-released)
Medium: Two-color hand-pulled screen print (serigraph) on 300gsm Arches fine art paper
Dimensions: 31 x 23 cm (~12.2 x 9.1 inches)
Edition Size: Extremely limited edition of only 50 prints worldwide (plus occasional Artist Proofs)
Signature: Hand-signed and numbered by the artist.
Collector's Note
As the "Godfather of Stencil Art," Blek le Rat's influence on the global street art movement—and specifically on Banksy—is unparalleled. This print is highly sought after due to its low edition size and its unique story about art meeting science in the digital age. Authentic artwork issued with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) signed by the artist.The Godfather of Stencil Art: Technique and Influence
Blek le Rat (Xavier Prou) is the undisputed progenitor of the stencil graffiti movement. Beginning in Paris in 1981, he revolutionized urban art by moving away from New York-style lettering toward pictorial, life-sized stencils. This was a radical shift that redefined the street as a gallery for the people. His technique is rooted in his formal training at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he studied etching and lithography—skills he translated into the multi-layered stencil process. By using stencils, Blek achieved a level of reproducibility and visual clarity that allowed his iconic imagery, such as the 'rat' (an anagram of ART), to spread across Europe like a plague of creativity.
Legacy and the Banksy Connection
It is impossible to discuss modern street art without acknowledging Blek’s profound influence on the movement’s biggest stars. Banksy famously stated: "Every time I think I've painted something slightly original, I find out that Blek le Rat has done it as well, only twenty years earlier." From the social commentary of his 'Beggars' series to his classical "Chopin" reinterpretations, Blek’s work remains a benchmark for social consciousness in art. At It’s Only Paper, we specialize in authentic Blek le Rat editions, ensuring that every hand-signed print is handled with archival care and shipped securely to collectors worldwide in professional gallery packaging.
Blek le Rat: Frédéric Chopin (2020)
This striking work, sometimes referred to as "Chopin in Trainers," captures a rare intersection between classical history and contemporary digital culture. Released in 2020, the piece was directly inspired by a viral 3D artistic rendering of Chopin’s face created by artist Hadi Karimi earlier that year. Blek le Rat responded to this digital "resurrection" by giving the 19th-century composer a 21st-century "uniform" for the street.
Artist: Blek le Rat (Xavier Prou, French b. 1951)
Title: Frédéric Chopin
Release Date: November 6, 2020 (Self-released)
Medium: Two-color hand-pulled screen print (serigraph) on 300gsm Arches fine art paper
Dimensions: 31 x 23 cm (~12.2 x 9.1 inches)
Edition Size: Extremely limited edition of only 50 prints worldwide (plus occasional Artist Proofs)
Signature: Hand-signed and numbered by the artist.
Collector's Note
As the "Godfather of Stencil Art," Blek le Rat's influence on the global street art movement—and specifically on Banksy—is unparalleled. This print is highly sought after due to its low edition size and its unique story about art meeting science in the digital age. Authentic artwork issued with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) signed by the artist.The Godfather of Stencil Art: Technique and Influence
Blek le Rat (Xavier Prou) is the undisputed progenitor of the stencil graffiti movement. Beginning in Paris in 1981, he revolutionized urban art by moving away from New York-style lettering toward pictorial, life-sized stencils. This was a radical shift that redefined the street as a gallery for the people. His technique is rooted in his formal training at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he studied etching and lithography—skills he translated into the multi-layered stencil process. By using stencils, Blek achieved a level of reproducibility and visual clarity that allowed his iconic imagery, such as the 'rat' (an anagram of ART), to spread across Europe like a plague of creativity.
Legacy and the Banksy Connection
It is impossible to discuss modern street art without acknowledging Blek’s profound influence on the movement’s biggest stars. Banksy famously stated: "Every time I think I've painted something slightly original, I find out that Blek le Rat has done it as well, only twenty years earlier." From the social commentary of his 'Beggars' series to his classical "Chopin" reinterpretations, Blek’s work remains a benchmark for social consciousness in art. At It’s Only Paper, we specialize in authentic Blek le Rat editions, ensuring that every hand-signed print is handled with archival care and shipped securely to collectors worldwide in professional gallery packaging.
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