Painted People: Humanity in 21 Tattoos
Publisher,William Collins
Publication Date,
Format, Paperback
Weight,
No. of Pages, 352
For all of human history, we have made permanent marks on our skin - for multifarious, fascinating, reasons. The oldest preserved tattooed skin that survives is European: OEtzi, the famous 'Iceman' mummy, whose body is covered in small tattoo marks, allows us a brief glimpse into the pre-history of the practice. Since then, people in every corner of the world have decided to tattoo themselves, and countless cultures have performed this ancient artistic practice.
But for the most part, these fascinating histories remain stubbornly untold - glorious characters, unbelievable truths and the lives of people from 5000 BCE to the present day have been hidden on the skin, under layers of clothing, and under layers of history.
About the Author
Dr Matt Lodder is the UK's foremost expert on the history of tattooing. A Senior Lecturer in Art History and Theory at the University of Essex. His research primarily concerns the history of Western tattooing from the 17th century to the present day. His expertise extends to wider history of body modification, including tongue splitting and implants. He is regularly invited to give lectures at venues including the V&A, the Royal Academy, the Museum of London and the National Museum of Scotland. He has written for The Guardian and History Today, and appeared on broadcast media. His latest exhibition 'British Tattoo Art Revealed' is currently on tour nation wide.
Dimensions (cm): 2.6 x 23.2 x 15.2
