Tattoos, everyone has their own perspective of seeing it. Some people like it while some don’t, and it’s completely understandable because it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. A few decades ago, this kind of body art was accepted in the society, and those who actually did it were considered a rebel. But these days, the society has become much more liberal towards it, but there are still many people who frown upon the idea of getting inked permanently.
History
What most people are not aware of is the fact that the word “tattoo” is a derivation of the Tahitian word “tatu” which means to mark something. Wondering where did it all start? Well, have you heard about the infamous “Iceman” that were found 1991? He was the first individual who had his body inked in 58 different places. Several researches including carbon dating have proved that he was 5300 years old. So, it’s pretty evident that body art is not a modern creation by any means; it existed thousands of years ago.
Origin
Ancient cultures dating back thousands of years used body art to ward off diseases. Using of needles to ink the body was first implemented by the Egyptians after which it spread across Greece, Arabia and eventually Asia. Though it was first used to identify criminals, it transformed into an art in Japan to the point that even the Yakuza mafia used it to intimidate others. Way back hundreds of centuries ago; it was a norm for many big families to have their crests inked on their body but after the Norman invasion, this trend disappeared altogether.
Tools used
Over the decades, the tools and equipments used to get inked have drastically changed right from sharp portions of a bone to electric machines used in 1891. With the invention of the electric pen, getting inked became relatively easy which is why it lost most of its appeal. Artists, who were once in huge demand, become restricted to inking individuals who lived in shady neighbourhoods.
But over time, the art of inking the body again flourished all across the world, and it can be safe to say that these days, 4 out of 10 individuals have some kind of ink in their body. This art has advanced to such a monumental level that individuals didn’t restrict themselves with permanent inks as temporary body art were invented which truly opened the doors to people who didn’t want to get inked permanently. Since then, the popularity of these inks have considerable soared and will undoubtedly do so for the foreseeable future.
