Kitsch

Origin

The term "kitsch" first emerged in the art markets of Munich, Germany, during the 1860s and 1870s. It was initially used by painters and art dealers to describe cheap, popular, and commercially produced artworks that appealed to the unsophisticated tastes of the rising middle class. These were often mass-produced souvenirs or sentimental trinkets, created quickly and cheaply to satisfy a demand for "art" among those who couldn't afford genuine masterpieces. The word itself is thought to derive from the German verb "verkitschen," meaning "to make cheap," or perhaps from "kitschen," meaning "to collect rubbish from the street." It quickly became a derogatory label, denoting objects of poor aesthetic quality, but over time, it also developed a complex appeal, sometimes embraced ironically or even celebrated for its charming bad taste.