The British street artist Banksy confirmed that a new mural showing a 1950s housewife with a swollen eye apparently pushing a man inside an abandoned flat-top freezer was his own work earlier today for his day Valentine’s Day, a few hours before the device is removed.

The artwork, which Banksy has titled on his website as “Valentine’s Day Mascara”, appeared in the seaside town of Margate, in eastern England, on Sunday night. The theme and timing seem to highlight violence against women.

Check out this Instagram post.

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Banksy gives little information about his work, which is usually displayed in public spaces at night, beyond a confirmation on social media.

Artist Pete Brown was painting the scene when the actual freezer — which was an integral part of the project — was removed this morning.

“A council truck turned up and removed the freezer,” he said, adding that the vehicle carried emergency lights and a metal cage like those used to remove items from the streets.

Brown, who had come to Margate from Bath, said he had come to the city to paint the sea, but when he saw the mural he started painting a wall scene instead.

City resident Lee Hilton said he loves art and was really happy about the project.

“I always thought maybe someone would do a painting on the wall, but I never expected a Banksy,” he said.

He had seen a pickup truck arrive Sunday night and cover the area with a tarp, he said, and when he woke up Monday the mural was there.

But he did not take his eyes off the artist and said that even if he had seen him, he would not want to reveal his identity.

According to local media the freezer was removed for health and safety reasons.