Tattoo Culture & History
The history, social impact, and cultural significance of tattoos across the world.
Tattoos in the Bible: What Leviticus 19:28 Really Says
Does the Bible forbid tattoos? What Leviticus 19:28 says in context, how Jewish and Christian traditions interpret it, why believers disagree, and the Christians who have tattooed crosses for centuries.
Tā Moko: The Meaning of Māori Tattoos and How to Respect Them
Carved with bone chisels and tied to identity and ancestry, tā moko is one of the world's most meaningful tattoo traditions. Its history, decline and revival, and the difference between tā moko and kirituhi.
Tattoo History in America: From Sailors to the Mainstream
Civil War tattooists, the first electric tattoo machine, circus sideshows, Sailor Jerry and a New York City ban that lasted 36 years. The history of tattooing in the United States.
Batok: The History of Filipino Tattooing and Apo Whang-Od
Hand-tapped with a thorn and charcoal, batok is one of the world's oldest living tattoo traditions. The history of Filipino tattooing, what Kalinga designs meant, and the story of 106-year-old Vogue cover star Apo Whang-Od.
Sailor Tattoo Meanings: Swallows, Anchors, Nautical Stars and Hold Fast
Swallows for miles sailed, a ship for rounding Cape Horn, HOLD FAST for deckhands. The traditional meanings of classic sailor tattoos, and how Sailor Jerry made them the foundation of American traditional.
Tattoo History Timeline: 5,000 Years of Ink, From Ötzi to Today
From Ötzi the Iceman's 61 tattoos and the oldest figurative tattoos in Egypt to Polynesia, Japan and the first electric tattoo machine in 1891. The history of tattoos as a timeline.
Sex Trafficking Tattoos: What Branding Means and How Survivors Reclaim Their Skin
Traffickers sometimes brand victims with forced tattoos. How survivors, tattoo artists and charities like Survivor's Ink and Project iRISE are covering and removing those marks, and where to get help in the UK, US and Canada.
1 in 4 Tattooed Adults Regret Their Ink: Here's What They Regret Most
Pew Research found 24% of tattooed Americans regret at least one piece. We break down exactly which tattoos get regretted, why artists refuse certain placements, and how to make sure you land in the 76%.
Tattoo Anthropology: How Scholars Study Culture
There's something genuinely magical about the way tattoos connect us to human history and culture. As someone who's spent years immersed in tattoo culture, I've always wondered about the deeper stories behind our ink.
Adam Krueger Teaching Tattooing at RISD Design School
When you think about where serious artists learn their craft, you might picture a traditional studio space, maybe a design school classroom.
Japanese Tattoo Yakuza: History and Modern Culture
When most people think about Japanese tattoos and yakuza, their minds immediately jump to images of organized crime, danger, and the traditional full-body irezumi designs that have captivated the world for centuries.
How World War II Changed Tattoo Culture Forever
When you think about the history of tattoos in America, World War II stands out as a pivotal moment that completely transformed how society viewed body art.