Humans have engaged in graffiti for millennia, from ancient declarations of love to modern political and social messages. While some view graffiti as ugly or irresponsible, others see it as a defiant artistic expression that originated as a means for marginalized groups to have their voices heard. The history of graffiti as an art form can be traced back to teenagers in the 1960s and 1970s who began tagging walls and subway cars as a means of self-expression.

26. “A PAINTING IN A MUSEUM hears more ridiculous opinions

27. than anything else in the world.” ~Edmond de goncourt

28. WRONG!

42. HERE’S JOHNNY!!!

47. But graffiti is, by definition, a defiant and public exhibition. ~pbs.org

48. NOT ART!

49. NOOOOOOOO!

50. Graffiti: The History of an Art Form By: Theresa Nucciarone Image taken by: Maria Malm

51. YAAAAAAAAY!

56. THE ROMANS! THE GREEKS!

58. pungere con parole (ancheassol.): un'ironiachegraffia~garzantilinguistica. sapere.it.com

61. “Ancient graffiti displayed phrases of love declarations, political rhetoric, and simple words of thought compared to today's popular messages of social and political ideals” ~wikipedia.org

63. Humans have been writing symbols on walls since time immemorial. ~nymag.com

64. “People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish. But that’s only if it’s done properly.” ~Banksy

69. But it’s safe to place the origins of a New York style in the late sixties, as a younger generation’s artistic response to the public protests of the Black Power and civil-rights movements. ~nymag.com

74. The first modern graffiti writer is widely considered to be Cornbread, a high school student from Philadelphia, who in 1967 started tagging city walls to get the attention of a girl. ~pbs.org

75. "Seems logical to me captain."

78. These kids were rechanneling all of those hippie ideas about freedom, peace, love, and the democratization of culture by redefining the purpose of art. They represented a celebration of the rights of the salt of the earth over private property. ~nymag.com BREAK ON THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE

81. By the mid seventies, many subway cars were so completely covered in top-to-bottom paintings. ~nymag.com