2.1 Ancient and pre-modern precursors

Ancient public art and writing laid the groundwork for modern street art. From cave paintings to hieroglyphs, these early forms of expression served religious, political, and communicative purposes, reflecting the societies that created them.

The evolution from ancient to modern street art shows shifts in purpose, technique, and accessibility. While ancient works were often sanctioned by authorities, modern street art challenges the status quo, using new tools and methods to express diverse voices.

Ancient and Pre-Modern Public Art and Writing

Cave paintings and ancient graffiti

Top images from around the web for Cave paintings and ancient graffiti

• 

  File:Reproduction cave of Altamira 02.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Graffiti Museum Opens – 20,000 Year Old Lascaux Cave Art – Travel Information and Tips for France View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Cave painting - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Reproduction cave of Altamira 02.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Graffiti Museum Opens – 20,000 Year Old Lascaux Cave Art – Travel Information and Tips for France View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Cave paintings and ancient graffiti

• 

  File:Reproduction cave of Altamira 02.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Graffiti Museum Opens – 20,000 Year Old Lascaux Cave Art – Travel Information and Tips for France View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Cave painting - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Reproduction cave of Altamira 02.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Graffiti Museum Opens – 20,000 Year Old Lascaux Cave Art – Travel Information and Tips for France View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Cave paintings discovered in Lascaux caves in France (c. 15,000 BCE) and Altamira caves in Spain (c. 14,000 BCE) depict animals (bison, horses), hunting scenes, and human figures using natural pigments (ochre, charcoal) and tools (animal bones, twigs)
• Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs (c. 3200 BCE) combined pictograms and phonetic signs to record language for religious (temple inscriptions), political (royal decrees), and administrative (tax records) purposes
• Ancient Greek and Roman graffiti (c. 800 BCE - 500 CE) found on walls of buildings (houses, taverns), temples, and public spaces (forums, bathhouses) includes political slogans ("Vote for Gaius!"), poetry, and personal messages (insults, declarations of love)
  • Alexamenos graffito mocks early Christian worship
  • Pompeii graffiti preserves everyday life before the city's destruction
• Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican murals (c. 200 BCE - 1500 CE) created by Olmec, Maya, and Aztec cultures depicted religious (creation myths), mythological (hero twins), and historical (battles, conquests) scenes for propaganda and communication

Contexts of early public expression

• Cave paintings believed to have served religious (shamanic rituals), spiritual (ensuring successful hunts), or storytelling (passing down knowledge) purposes reflecting the importance of animals and hunting in prehistoric societies
• Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs developed as a way to record language and communicate ideas, used by the ruling class (pharaohs) and priesthood (temple scribes) to maintain power and control
• Ancient Greek and Roman graffiti reflected the daily lives, concerns (political rivalries), and humor (sexual jokes) of ordinary citizens, serving as a form of unofficial public communication and expression
• Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican murals commissioned by rulers (kings, emperors) to legitimize their power (divine right to rule) and communicate with the public, reflecting the central role of religion and mythology in these societies

Ancient vs modern street art

• Purposes
  • Ancient and pre-modern often served religious (cave paintings), political (Mesoamerican murals), or communicative (Roman graffiti) functions
  • Modern often used for self-expression (tags), social commentary (Banksy), and challenging authority (Shepard Fairey)
• Techniques
  1. Ancient and pre-modern used natural pigments (mineral oxides), tools (reed brushes), and labor-intensive methods (fresco)
  2. Modern use spray paint, stencils, and quick, spontaneous application (wheat pasting, guerrilla tactics)
• Accessibility
  • Ancient and pre-modern often created by and for the elite (Egyptian scribes) or ruling class (Mayan kings)
  • Modern typically created by and for marginalized or underrepresented groups (urban youth, political activists)
• Legality
  • Ancient and pre-modern generally sanctioned or commissioned by authorities (Roman patrons)
  • Modern often illegal and considered vandalism by authorities (graffiti laws)