U.S. #5483
Issue Date: July 1, 2020
First Day City: New York, NY
Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Pane of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 20,000,000
Graffiti is the visual aspect of hip hop. It can be found hidden in out-of-the-way places and covering massive walls. While some consider graffiti to be vandalism, others consider it to be an art form. Graffiti has a long history, dating back centuries.
The word graffiti comes from the Italian word graffiato (“scratched”). Through much of history, it referred to figure drawings on the walls of ancient ruins, such as those found in the Catacombs of Rome and Pompeii. Ancient graffiti carried declarations of love, political messages, insults, alphabets, and quotes.
Early examples of modern graffiti include messages left by hobos and railworkers on traincars in the late 1800s. Graffiti as a form of urban art began to appear in the 1950s. Graffiti became associated with hip hop in the 197-s as a way for groups to “tag” their neighborhoods. Soon, graffiti artists spray painted walls at block parties while DJs played music. And the appearance of graffiti in music videos helped to further link the visual art to hip hop culture.
While early graffiti consisted of quickly sprayed signatures, it has grown into elaborate calligraphy and images with effects, shading, and more. Though some still consider it vandalism, others see graffiti as art. In fact, a graffiti artist that was once chased by authorities recently sold one of their works for $100 million.