Negative Hands: Anasazi Grafitti
Utah, U.S.A. 2013
Look closely and you will see several handprints on the underside of the rock ledges. These are called ‘negative handprints’. The hand is outlined with the paint rather than having the hand print done by placing a paint covered hand on the rock. The person who made the negative handprint could have filled his mouth with paint, which would be concocted of ochre or similar, and then spewed the stuff over his hand. And you thought you had to go to the hardware store to get spray paint!
19th Century Graffiti
Bukovina, Romania 2012
Graffiti inscribed by Austrians and Russians on the walls of the monastery at Suceava. I first saw this graffiti in 1989. The nun who took us around the monastery scathingly described the markings as vandalism. I can still remember the tone of her voice. She seemed to think the defacing had been done by Austrian soldiers or that is the impression I got from my guide.
I took this photo in 2012 and I was glad to see the graffiti hadn’t been painted over.
I recommend Daniel Gheorghita if you are interested in touring Romania. Contact him at www.covinnus.com