blek le rat (pronounced [blɛk lə ʁa]; born xavier prou, 1951) is a french graffiti artist. he was one of the first graffiti artists in paris, and has been described as the 'father of stencil graffiti'. blek began his artwork in 1981, painting stencils of rats on the walls of paris streets. he described the rat as 'the only free animal in the city', and one which 'spreads the plague everywhere, just like street art'. his name originates from a childhood cartoon 'blek le roc', using 'rat' as an anagram for 'art'. initially influenced by the early graffiti-art of new york city after a visit in 1…