It was the stunt that stunned the art world.

Banksy's "Girl with Balloon" painting shredding soon after selling at auction.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) AUCTIONEER AND URBAN ART SPECIALIST FROM ARTCURIAL AUCTION HOUSE, ARNAUD OLIVEUX: "You can see that he did not completely destroy his work, so he made something else.

He indirectly created a work of art, which is maybe even more interesting than the story of the self-destruction." Soon, more Banksy prints will go on sale in France - and the Artcurial auction house said it can only hope for a similar performance from the irreverent and anonymous artist.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) AUCTIONEER AND URBAN ART SPECIALIST FROM ARTCURIAL AUCTION HOUSE, ARNAUD OLIVEUX, SAYING: "Are we expecting it?

Not really.

Perhaps we are hoping for it.

When you're at a spontaneous event like that, you become a participant.

And I, as an auctioneer, I would love it if something happens.

Now Banksy never repeats himself.

Here, you see the frame, there's nothing at all hidden in the structure.

But perhaps we could imagine a different stunt." Artcurial will be auctioning print editions of Banksy's "Stop and Search" which depicts Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz having her picnic basket searched by a police officer.

Other Banksy prints for sale include "Queen Vic" - an image of Britain's Queen Victoria mounting a woman wearing stockings and heels - and his Warhol-esque "Soup Can Yellow / Emerald / Brown".