The Art of Tattooing
Tattooing is a traditional art form spread over many cultures and societies. A tattoo is the marking of the skin with punctures into which pigment is rubbed. The word originates from the Tahitian tattau meaning to mark. Kings and commoners, sailors and prisoners, tribesmen and sweethearts all have shared one thing: the art of the tattoo. Evidence from ancient Egypt, Greenland, Siberia, and New Zealand shows how truly global the tattooer's art is and how old. In fact, tattooing had existed for thousands of years before England's Captain Cook encountered it in the South Pacific in 1769. Merchant and naval seamen soon spread the art to Europe and America. But while its meaning has varied from people to people and from place to place, tattooing has most often served as a sign of social status, as a mark of one's passage through life, or simply as a way to beautify the body (Underwood). Once regarded in the West as frightening and repulsive, the tattoo has enjoyed great popular!ity in our own culture in recent years. Everywhere we look today such as the movies, advertisements, and television are signs that people of all walks of life appreciate and practice the art of the tattoo. Tattooing is the oldest form of self-expressive a
The trend, according to many tattoo artists, is gaining momentum because of the growing number of movie stars and celebrities, including Kiefer Sutherland and Cher, sporting tattoos (Underwood). The women wore tattoos on their bellies to ensure fertility, and many of the priestesses were heavily tattooed, especially on the face. Lockhart and it is certainly a form of differentiation. This was a bold statement of their faith, although secret, a Christian caught with a cross tattoo would be killed in short time. The art of tattooing has definitely outlived painting in caves among other various forms of art, and the popularity of this art is booming. As one can see the process of this self-expressive art has not differed except for technology entering into the picture, however, the purpose of tattoos has changed over time. Her remains were well preserved and the tattooing can be clearly seen (Townsend). "It's like war paint for me," says Mr. In the years of the Roman Empire tattooing was almost wiped off the face of the earth in civilized cultures. His lower spine was covered by a series of blue parallel lines, his right ankle was emblazoned with stripes, and the tattoo of a cross lay behind his right knee (Sheremata). One could say that as far as art is concerned, that it is all in the eye of the beholder. Tattooing was also an extension of body painting which may indicate religious dedication or alliance with a particular god; they may also serve as protection against some evil such as a disease, as identification with a certain group, such as the tribe, or as evidence of personal rank or status within the group (Shukla). Christians began tattooing crosses on the underside of their forearms as a secret sign to other Christians. Tattooing was initially done for ritual, esthetic, medicinal, magic, or religious purposes.
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Roman Empire,
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Lockhart Iceman,
,
Sheremata Egyptians,
Townsend Tattooing,
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Townsend History,
self-expressive art,
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