This is a Book for People Who Love Tattoos

by Verena Hutter, Eric Hinkley (Illustrator)

Overview

Journey from ink to skin with This Is a Book for People Who Love Tattoos, a glorious full-color celebration of the history and craft of tattooing.

From the earliest known origins of tattooing to the latest trends, this gorgeously illustrated guide offers a deep look at the culture of American Traditional style tattoos. Tattoo aficionado and historian Verena Hutter profiles not just the key tattoo artists who inspired the style, such as Sailor Jerry, Bert Grimm, and Dainty Dottie, but also the meanings and origins behind some of the most iconic designs found in tattoo shops across the globe She traces the indelible “I love Mom” tattoo back to a 19th-century folk song sung by Irish sailors and reveals the significance of eagles, skulls, horseshoes, lighthouses, and dozens of other designs. This Is a Book for People Who Love Tattoos will inspire your next tattoo session while celebrating the rich history of the craft. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762485956
Publisher:	Running Press Book Publishers
Publication date:	05/07/2024
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	4.55(w) x 7.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Verena Hutter is a writer, educator, editor, and lover of cats and dogs. She hails from Germany, and came to Portland, Oregon, by way of Aotearoa/New Zealand, Minnesota, California (where she received a PhD), and Indiana. Her interests include literature, pop culture, Oceania, and, of course, tattoos.

Editorial Reviews

Hutter illustrates the expansive and intersecting histories of tattoo styles in a way that recognizes social, cultural, and historical differences while foregrounding how tattoo artists 'are part of a long tradition of misfits, craftspeople, storytellers, artists, and visionaries' . . . [This book will] encourage new ways of thinking about the stories people tell with their skin.”—Emily Bowles, Library Journal

From the Publisher

06/07/2024

Whether readers are heavily inked, tattoo-curious, or somewhere in between, they're bound to learn something from Hutter's debut. Hutter illustrates the expansive and intersecting histories of tattoo styles in a way that recognizes social, cultural, and historical differences while foregrounding how tattoo artists "are part of a long tradition of misfits, craftspeople, storytellers, artists, and visionaries." She demonstrates how body art has become a powerful tool for self-expression, disrupting boundaries of race, gender, sexuality, age, class, profession, socioeconomic status, and more. Informational and practical in her overview of different tattooing techniques, Hutter also inks in her own theoretical acumen, drawing attention to the what and how of tattooing and also the why, as it intersects with various sociocultural factors. She explores archetypal tattoos to teach readers their history while giving suggestions about how to combine, personalize, and tailor these well-worn designs to one's own story. VERDICT If readers are wondering why their cubicle mate chose a snake over a bird or how tattooing went from pirates to celebrities, this book will provide answers or at least encourage new ways of thinking about the stories people tell with their skin.—Emily Bowles

Library Journal