Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The old graffiti house is a museum originally located in the commune of Marsilly, Charente-Maritime (New Aquitaine region). This cultural place offers reproductions of graffiti, including those of Saint Peter's church opposite, as well as other religious and lay sites in the region. These works offer an overview of popular expressions and marks left by the inhabitants or visitors over the centuries.

A particular feature of the museum lies in an independent room, managed by a local association, entirely dedicated to the history of the camera and camera. This collection covers the technological evolution of these tools, from their origins to the 1980s, thus illustrating the evolution of image capture practices over time.

Originally, the museum was based in Marsilly, but its collection was later transferred to Fort La Prée, on the island of Ré. This move has allowed these historic artifacts to be grouped into a broader context, while maintaining their vocation to preserve and enhance the local heritage. The graffiti exhibited, like those of Saint Peter's Church, reflect tangible traces of the past, often linked to the region's maritime or commercial activities.

Publications, such as Marcel Le Roux's work on the brands of merchants and shipowners in Charente-Maritime, or the research of Friends of the Museum of Ancient Graffiti of Marsilly (such as their study Stone boats in 1999), demonstrate the academic interest in these inscriptions. These studies highlight the role of graffiti as historical sources, revealing unknown aspects of local economic and social life.

The museum is part of a wider cultural network, including other similar sites in France, such as the Graffitis de Cucuron. Its existence highlights the importance of preserving these forms of spontaneous expression, which complement traditional archives and enrich the understanding of intangible heritage.

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