Tattooing in 19th century Europe

For a very long time in the modern history of our civilization, tattoos were associated with criminals and the morally decadent. It was more of a taboo, socially not accepted and even outlawed in some countries; but that only started with the Roman era which exerted influence over a wide area. Ancient history however tells us that tattooing not only existed long before Christ walked the earth but also that they were associated with religious, tribal and social practices. In short, they were once the way of the world! And no doubt – history now seems to be repeating itself!

Although tattoos existed for as long as humanity has, the practice gradually died out in Europe mainly due to its criminal association. Later with the introduction of Christianity, the practice was completely stamped out of the European cultures.

Tattoos are said to be re-introduced to Europe with Captain James Cook, a British explorer and navigator of the early 18th century. On one of his voyages in the Pacific Ocean, Cook is said to have brought back with him a fully tattooed Polynesian tribesman thus bringing with him the practice of tattooing to modern Europe.

The tattoo machine was finally invented in the early 19th century thereby stabilizing the practice. The art was not just a tribal practice but a modern day profession! The invention of the tattoo machine also brought with it more security and sanitation to the process and it slowly started emerging from its ancient shell.

More and more people slowly started appreciating the art and every so slowly stopped blindly condemning it as a symbol of immorality and criminality. As a bonus, the tattoo machine enabled precision and consistency! It no longer depended on the tattooist’s form on that particular day to get a great looking design. The machines were able to penetrate the skin equally deep producing equally good tattoos.

After this, the art spread even among the upper classes all over Europe and especially in Britain. The Harmsworth Magazine in 1898 estimated that about one in five members of the “gentry” were tattooed. It was not unheard of for members of the elite class to gather in libraries and drawing rooms after dinner and show off their tattoos. It was even rumored that Queen Victoria had a small tattoo that was well hidden! It is also said that Winston Churchill’s mother had a tattoo of a snake around her wrist, which she covered with a diamond bracelet. And following the tradition was Winston Churchill himself with the tattoo of a small anchor on his forearm!