Spontánně motivované nápisy a kresby
Spontaneously Motivated Writings and Drawings

Historical Graffiti on Pernštejn Structures

Summary/Abstract: This paper is focused on the study of historical spontaneouslymotivated writings and drawings, including modern history. The text presentedhere is based on the experience with the restoration of historical landmarks.At numerous sites, valuable historical surfaces, including those withwritings, are being removed. In many cases, therefore, valuable resourcesthat could help create a picture of one or more significant chapters of culturalhistory have disappeared forever. The aim of this contribution, amongother things, is to highlight the value of spontaneously motivated writingsas a historical resource. The text attempts to explain how we understand theconcept of graffiti, and what significance historical writings and drawingshave for our research. From the findings discovered at two structures ofthe House of Pernštejn, at Litomyšl Château and at Prostějov Château,we have attempted to describe and interpret preserved writings and drawings.The graffiti that we have found at both of these sites represents anexemplary set of the most often displayed symbols. However, there are alsoless common symbols or cartoons, the origin of which we are attempting toshed light on. Graffiti is reflected in many scientific fields, from art historyto cultural history, sociology, archaeology, folklore studies, psychology,linguistics, epigraphy, landmark preservation, restoration, and heraldry.The expression “graffiti” is problematic due to its numerous connotations. Itis a dynamic and constantly developing term. For the purposes of this text,we will understand it as consisting of writings and drawings originatingfrom spontaneous thoughts, without lengthy consideration, using the mostreadily available means. The study of historical spontaneously motivatedwritings and drawings remains rather on the fringe of professional interest.Nonetheless, historical spontaneously motivated writings and drawings area remarkable phenomenon that is not easy to grasp. Only some historicalsources enable such close and intimate insight into the authors. Based onour observations, spontaneously motivated unofficial writings and drawingsare created from random thought. To interpret them for their use inresearch in the humanities, it is necessary to get to know their environmentand related historical events well, since only then can such messages beproperly comprehended.

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