THE HISTORY OF MURAL PAINTING

Without a doubt, murals have been around as long as people. From cave paintings to the street art murals of today, people have been leaving their signs in many places around the world.

The word mural originates from the Latin word “murus”, meaning “wall”. Today, we can define murals as any piece of artwork painted or applied directly onto a wall, ceiling or other large surface.

Over the course of time, murals have covered the interiors and exteriors of many public buildings, such as palaces, temples, tombs, museums, libraries and churches, spreading onto the streets. All the while they kept their initial meaning and purpose: to paint a picture of society, created from its stories and values.

A mural’s role within a society is to express religious and political beliefs. It is also a tool of expressing freedom, social activism and propaganda. It plays an important role in the relationship between art and politics. Today, in many places around the world and mostly in South America, mural art is used to speak in the name of communities, nations and cultures.

Murals are also created with other purposes, such as advertising or simply for the sake of a beautiful image on a wall.