Banksy’s artwork showing a monkey carrying a “Laugh now” sandwich board is titled Laugh Now.
The image presents a suited chimpanzee holding a sign that reads, “Laugh now, but one day we’ll be in charge.” It is one of Banksy’s best-known images about power, class, and the possibility of social reversal. The joke depends on the monkey appearing subordinate while simultaneously warning that humans may not remain dominant.
Laugh Now became especially associated with Banksy’s early commercial art and was produced in multiple versions. The work is often confused with Banksy’s other animal-based images, particularly his numerous rats and chimpanzees. The word “laugh” is part of the artwork’s title, rather than a description added by later commentators.
Banksy frequently uses animals as stand-ins for people or institutions. In Laugh Now, the chimpanzee’s formal clothing and public message turn a familiar humorous motif into a pointed political statement.