History of traditional tattoos

Tattoos have a deep history, with evidence of them dating back 5,000 years, such as a frozen body found in 1991 with 57 tattoos. Tattoos have been discovered on mummies and figurines, serving various purposes across cultures, from religious symbols to markers of wealth and status. In Hawaii, tattoos were believed to protect health until missionaries discouraged the practice.

Western society was slower to adopt tattoos, which became popular among sailors in the 1700s, especially those who traveled to tattoo-rich cultures like Japan and the Pacific Islands. For about 200 years, tattoos were mainly associated with outsiders—sailors, hobos, circus performers, and enlisted servicemen.

Sailor Jerry revolutionized tattooing by blending Japanese techniques with bold American styles, introducing vivid colors and technical innovations. In the 1950s and 60s, tattoos became symbols of rebellion, embraced by outlaw biker gangs and convicts. By the late 1970s and early 80s, tattoos also became part of punk culture, signifying a rejection of conformity. Today, tattoos represent a wide range of personal expressions.

Traditional tattoos are steeped in history and are identifiable by key components including bold clean lines, vivid colors, iconic imagery, and minimal shading. The colors commonly used were primary, lots of blues, reds, yellows, and sometimes green and brown. The iconic imagery used is featured in the gallery page but includes, eagles, nautical themes, roses, serpents, skulls, hearts, pin-up girls, daggers and more.