Standing on two legs like a protester, Banksy’s rat holds a sign declaring, “Because I’m Worthless.” The phrase plays on L’Oréal’s familiar slogan “Because I’m worth it,” replacing its promise of confidence with an expression of self-doubt.

The joke is sharp because the change is so small. Advertising often suggests that what we buy can make us feel valuable; Banksy’s rat gives that message an uncomfortable twist. As an animal commonly dismissed as a pest, it also makes an unlikely spokesperson for a beauty slogan. The work invites us to think about who gets to feel worthy, and who decides what worth means.