The origins of Street Art

At the origins of street art!

Street art is a contemporary libertarian and subversive artistic movement that developed at the end of the last century. It is defined as the art of public places, that which we find in our streets, on our walls. It comes in various forms: graffiti, stencil graffiti, poster creation, pastel and even video projection.

Contrary to what one might think, Street Art is not recent. Indeed, we see its beginnings in Mexico with the muralist movement, resulting from the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

Mexico 

In the 1960s, in Philadelphia in the United States, a man under the pseudonym Cornbread spray painted the name of the girl he loved on all the walls of the city. Joined by another man, Cool Earl, they wrote revolutionary messages that were very popular.

These graffiti quickly took on an artistic dimension and spread particularly in New York.

This is when Street Art came close to illegality, due to its rebellious and protesting nature. He was also strongly reprimanded there.

Banksy “Graffiti is a crime”

Subsequently, in the 1970s, the Street Art movement arrived in Europe.

In France, although we have never really defined it in this way, we compare it to a form of art. He is portrayed as having intellectual value, mostly with a political stance, and sometimes a touch of humor.

At the beginning of the 1980s, this form of expression interested many artists and spread widely, particularly with many new techniques such as stencils.

Let us also remember that at this same period, Germany faced a difficult political situation; it is separated in two by the Berlin Wall. This same wall, when it was destroyed at the end of the 1980s, was almost entirely covered with graffiti, slogans, drawings, etc.

Street art was therefore used as a tool for expressing discontent and protest.

“Bruderkuss” by Dimitri Vrubel

Nowadays, Street Art has become an art in its own right and there are many key figures of this movement: Banksy, Invader, the Os Gemeos brothers.

A real enthusiasm will thus be created and the way we look at this form of art will change: public institutions will order works, the SNCF will agree to welcome the arrival of its TGVs with new frescoes, exhibitions and museums. will host works of street art, and finally works from street art will be put in sales rooms.

Street art has thus gone from illegal graffiti on walls to a recognized and appreciated art with its emblematic figures, on a market that is still clearly accessible.

And at Label Chaussette, we encourage you to express yourself, to showcase your artistic side and that's what we try to highlight every Monday with Monday Inspi'!

Send us your favorites, or your most beautiful creations on our Instagram account, or by email to the following address: hello@label-chaussette.com

Otherwise, we also tried street art by adapting a sock on a wall. We hope you like it

Sources: Beware https://www.bewaremag.com/tout-savoir-street-art/ - Erwan Manchec

https://www.riseart.com/fr/guide/2393/aux-origines-du-street-art