A Valentine’s Day message from Banksy comments on violence against women

At first glance, she could be a prototypical 1950s housewife, wearing an apron over a smart gingham dress, complete with yellow cleaning gloves. But this is a Banksy artwork on the side of a building we’re talking about, and the woman is pushing a freezer door closed — and a man’s legs are jutting out the other end.

The woman is also hurt. She appears to be missing a tooth, and an eye is swollen shut. And that’s where the title comes in: “Valentine’s Day mascara,” according to a post to Banksy’s Instagram account on Tuesday.

The most-liked reply to Banksy’s post reads: “Fighting violence used against women. Even on Valentines Day. Always!”

The artwork appeared in Margate, a city in southeastern England, becoming the latest locale for a graffiti installation by one of the world’s most famous living artists. It reportedly appeared on Monday; one day later, local officials dismantled parts of the tableau.

The original work had incorporated an actual freezer and a toppled chair, following Banksy’s tradition of mixing everyday items with paint and other media. As word of the artwork spread, people flocked to snap photos of themselves posing alongside the woman — resilient, triumphant and injured.

Then the freezer was taken away, leaving a void.

The local Thanet District Council said that while the graffiti art is a genuine Banksy, and it was on the wall of a privately owned property, the chest freezer “has been removed by council operatives on the grounds of safety as it was on public land.”

The council added, “The fridge freezer is now in storage and will be returned once it has been made safe to the public. We will be contacting the owner of the property to discuss the options to preserve the artwork for the district.”

Some local residents mocked the council for invoking the need to keep public spaces tidy as a rationale for taking the art work apart.

“The council saying it was removed for safety reason is a bit short sided, considering that there is a side road next to the Banksy with a pile of rubbish and wood full of nails,” resident Davide Restifo told The Isle of Thanet News, submitting a photo of unsightly debris to prove his point.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, use a safe computer and contact help. You can also visit a local shelter, or call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.