Blog | Tattoo Gdańsk
Tattoo. History, facts and myths
Tattoo has a longer history than you might think
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Tattooing is not an invention of modern culture or a passing trend. It has accompanied humanity for thousands of years. Some of the oldest surviving examples are found on the mummy of Ötzi, who lived more than 5,000 years ago in the Alps. Dozens of simple tattoos were found on his body: lines, short marks and crosses. He carried a decorated copper axe, various sharp tools made of flint, wood, bone and deer antler, as well as tinder for starting fires...
An Egyptian mummy of a young woman, around 30 years old, discovered in 2014 in Deir el-Medina and dating to around 1200 BC, bears at least 30 tattoos, including markings on the front of her neck. The tattoos were associated with the cult of Hathor, the ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky. The Romans identified her with Venus, while the Greeks associated her with Aphrodite. The tattoos on her neck form a series of hieroglyphs arranged into an inscription meaning „Do good, do good”.
We do not know exactly where the first tattoo was created, nor can we identify a single place from which tattooing spread to the rest of the world. Tattooing appeared in different cultures and at different points in history. It served many purposes: it could be an ornament, a mark of belonging, part of a ritual, a symbol of status, protection or identity.
Over the centuries, both the meaning of tattoos and the methods used to create them changed. In Europe, interest in tattooing increased again towards the end of the 18th century, partly through maritime travel and contact between Europeans and the cultures of the Pacific. The word „tattoo” itself comes from the Polynesian term „tatau”, referring to the marking of the skin. The root of the word is the onomatopoeic sound „ta”, repeated rhythmically resembling the sound of one wooden stick striking another, with a needle or several needles attached to the end, often made from bone, such as turkey bone.
From ritual to contemporary tattooing
The history of tattooing, however, is not simply a history of exotic cultures, sailors and warriors. This is one of the myths that has strongly influenced the way tattooing has been perceived over the years. In the 20th century, tattoos were indeed often associated with the military, sailors, prisons and subcultures. This does not mean, however, that tattooing was always limited to these groups. Historical sources reveal a much more complex picture, including people from other social classes and backgrounds. Today, tattooing is simultaneously a craft, a form of expression, an element of fashion and a personal way of working with one's own body. Modern tattoo artists use technology that differs greatly from historical methods, but the basic idea remains surprisingly similar: to leave a mark on the skin.
A few facts and one particularly interesting myth
The history of tattooing is full of stories that sound convincing until we start checking the sources. One such story concerns Pablo Picasso as a tattoo artist. For years, a story circulated claiming that Picasso tattooed an Argentine woman in 1953. The story was interesting enough to appear in books about the history of tattooing. The problem is that this particular story is not true. Matt Lodder, an art historian specialising in the history of tattooing, examined the story in his book Painted People (published in Polish as Ludzie malowani) and in a later study devoted to the subject. As he points out, the original story about Picasso and tattooing turned out to be false. At the same time, later research uncovered an interesting detail: there is some evidence suggesting that Picasso was indeed interested in the possibility of tattooing around 1912. That, however, is quite different from claiming that he occasionally „picked up a tattoo machine”. It turns out that popular stories (like much of the information found online) require careful verification.
What is worth reading?
Matt Lodder — Painted People: 21 Tattoos That Changed the World
One of the more interesting contemporary books on the history of tattooing. Lodder does not attempt to tell the story solely in chronological order. Instead, through the stories of specific people and their tattoos, he presents a broader social and cultural context.
Andrzej Jelski — Tatuaż
An older Polish publication that for many years served as a point of reference for people interested in the history of tattooing. It is also worth reading because it shows how knowledge about tattooing has changed over time and how certain pieces of information were passed from one publication to another. The story attributed to Picasso is a good example.
Mariusz Snopek — Tatuaż. Element współczesnej kultury
A more sociological publication. The author discusses, among other things, the history of tattooing, its social functions, tattooing methods and changing attitudes towards the practice. The book was first published in 2009 and has since appeared in subsequent editions.
Stanisław Szukalski – Tatuaż. Znak Potopu
A completely different case. The book presents Szukalski's highly original theories concerning the origins and meaning of tattoos and other forms of body modification. It is best approached primarily as a record of the artist's extraordinary way of thinking, rather than as a contemporary academic publication confirming his theories.
If you are interested in Szukalski's work, it is also worth visiting the Stanisław Szukalski Museum in Gdynia. It is worth noting, however, that the book Tatuaż. Znak Potopu is primarily associated with the Tattoo Museum in Gliwice, which was involved in presenting Szukalski's legacy related to this subject.
Tattoo is more than just an image on the skin
Today, it is easy to view tattooing primarily through the lens of aesthetics: design, style, composition and technique. History shows, however, that tattoos have always been something more. They have been a way of marking belonging, memory, status, beliefs and identity. Sometimes they were decoration, sometimes ritual, and sometimes imposed upon people. The meaning of a tattoo has never been unambiguous, and that is precisely what makes its history so interesting. Contemporary tattooing is simply another chapter in this very long history.
Tattoo. History, facts and myths
Geometry is the language of the universe
Blackwork/blackout tattoo — calmness
Tattoo sleeve. The journey is the goal
Geometric tattoo vs organic blackwork
Dotwork — rhythm written in dots
Tattoo design and artificial intelligence
Symmetry and asymmetry in tattooing
What to avoid before and after a tattoo session
Tattoo and pain that passes
Medical aspects of tattooing
Blog | About | Contact
An Egyptian mummy of a young woman, around 30 years old, discovered in 2014 in Deir el-Medina and dating to around 1200 BC, bears at least 30 tattoos, including markings on the front of her neck. The tattoos were associated with the cult of Hathor, the ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky. The Romans identified her with Venus, while the Greeks associated her with Aphrodite. The tattoos on her neck form a series of hieroglyphs arranged into an inscription meaning „Do good, do good”.
We do not know exactly where the first tattoo was created, nor can we identify a single place from which tattooing spread to the rest of the world. Tattooing appeared in different cultures and at different points in history. It served many purposes: it could be an ornament, a mark of belonging, part of a ritual, a symbol of status, protection or identity.
Over the centuries, both the meaning of tattoos and the methods used to create them changed. In Europe, interest in tattooing increased again towards the end of the 18th century, partly through maritime travel and contact between Europeans and the cultures of the Pacific. The word „tattoo” itself comes from the Polynesian term „tatau”, referring to the marking of the skin. The root of the word is the onomatopoeic sound „ta”, repeated rhythmically resembling the sound of one wooden stick striking another, with a needle or several needles attached to the end, often made from bone, such as turkey bone.
From ritual to contemporary tattooing
The history of tattooing, however, is not simply a history of exotic cultures, sailors and warriors. This is one of the myths that has strongly influenced the way tattooing has been perceived over the years. In the 20th century, tattoos were indeed often associated with the military, sailors, prisons and subcultures. This does not mean, however, that tattooing was always limited to these groups. Historical sources reveal a much more complex picture, including people from other social classes and backgrounds. Today, tattooing is simultaneously a craft, a form of expression, an element of fashion and a personal way of working with one's own body. Modern tattoo artists use technology that differs greatly from historical methods, but the basic idea remains surprisingly similar: to leave a mark on the skin.
A few facts and one particularly interesting myth
The history of tattooing is full of stories that sound convincing until we start checking the sources. One such story concerns Pablo Picasso as a tattoo artist. For years, a story circulated claiming that Picasso tattooed an Argentine woman in 1953. The story was interesting enough to appear in books about the history of tattooing. The problem is that this particular story is not true. Matt Lodder, an art historian specialising in the history of tattooing, examined the story in his book Painted People (published in Polish as Ludzie malowani) and in a later study devoted to the subject. As he points out, the original story about Picasso and tattooing turned out to be false. At the same time, later research uncovered an interesting detail: there is some evidence suggesting that Picasso was indeed interested in the possibility of tattooing around 1912. That, however, is quite different from claiming that he occasionally „picked up a tattoo machine”. It turns out that popular stories (like much of the information found online) require careful verification.
What is worth reading?
Matt Lodder — Painted People: 21 Tattoos That Changed the World
One of the more interesting contemporary books on the history of tattooing. Lodder does not attempt to tell the story solely in chronological order. Instead, through the stories of specific people and their tattoos, he presents a broader social and cultural context.
Andrzej Jelski — Tatuaż
An older Polish publication that for many years served as a point of reference for people interested in the history of tattooing. It is also worth reading because it shows how knowledge about tattooing has changed over time and how certain pieces of information were passed from one publication to another. The story attributed to Picasso is a good example.
Mariusz Snopek — Tatuaż. Element współczesnej kultury
A more sociological publication. The author discusses, among other things, the history of tattooing, its social functions, tattooing methods and changing attitudes towards the practice. The book was first published in 2009 and has since appeared in subsequent editions.
Stanisław Szukalski – Tatuaż. Znak Potopu
A completely different case. The book presents Szukalski's highly original theories concerning the origins and meaning of tattoos and other forms of body modification. It is best approached primarily as a record of the artist's extraordinary way of thinking, rather than as a contemporary academic publication confirming his theories.
If you are interested in Szukalski's work, it is also worth visiting the Stanisław Szukalski Museum in Gdynia. It is worth noting, however, that the book Tatuaż. Znak Potopu is primarily associated with the Tattoo Museum in Gliwice, which was involved in presenting Szukalski's legacy related to this subject.
Tattoo is more than just an image on the skin
Today, it is easy to view tattooing primarily through the lens of aesthetics: design, style, composition and technique. History shows, however, that tattoos have always been something more. They have been a way of marking belonging, memory, status, beliefs and identity. Sometimes they were decoration, sometimes ritual, and sometimes imposed upon people. The meaning of a tattoo has never been unambiguous, and that is precisely what makes its history so interesting. Contemporary tattooing is simply another chapter in this very long history.
Tattoo. History, facts and myths
Geometry is the language of the universe
Blackwork/blackout tattoo — calmness
Tattoo sleeve. The journey is the goal
Geometric tattoo vs organic blackwork
Dotwork — rhythm written in dots
Tattoo design and artificial intelligence
Symmetry and asymmetry in tattooing
What to avoid before and after a tattoo session
Tattoo and pain that passes
Medical aspects of tattooing
Blog | About | Contact
