Graffiti

In archaeology and art history, refers to casual scribbles or pictographs on walls, stones, or other surfaces. In the context of ancient Greek vase painting, graffiti refers to marks incised or cut into the ceramic, usually on the underside of the foot of the vase; they were generally trademarks. In recent times the term is applied to humorous, satiric, obscene, or gang-related writings or drawings executed anonymously in public places. Graffiti is distinct from "sgraffito," in that sgraffito is not casual, but is instead a formal decorative mark-making technique used on pottery, glass, or other surfaces.