Torn Posters can be seen as a "palimpsest"—something altered but still bearing visible traces of its earlier form. As a changing, vibrant city, Paris itself is a kind of palimpsest—a living text to be read and understood and enjoyed on its face, but also through the layers of its history visible underneath. Torn or lacerated posters are also an example of décollage—collage in reverse, ripping away parts to create a new appearance and in a sense a new artwork.