"Tattoo Jock, 43, gives himself a tattooing at his shop near London's King Cross Station in October 1967. He has given himself many tattoos in places he can reach. (AP Photo/Frank Tewkesbur)"

The Denver Post recently featured a photo gallery they called "Tattoo Trends." It put me off at first because I don't think an ancient art could ever be deemed a "trend"; however, going through their extensive photo selection from the Associated Press archives, the images speak more of tattoo culture from 1935 to 1995 than of fashion, and their reflection on the evolution of the art is really compelling, particularly coupled with the original captions (loving this old one on Cliff Raven reprinted at the bottom of this post).  Definitely worth clicking through five pages worth. I just found it strange that they would stop the gallery at photos taken fifteen years ago. [More money demanded for recent images, perhaps?]


"George Burchett, 78-year-old tattoo artist of London, England, right, with his son, Les, inspects the design for the dragon tattoo on Feb. 13, 1951, which was tattooed on King Frederick's chest. It was executed in vivid reds, greens and blues. (AP Photo)"


"Cliff Raven, left, of Chicago considered by many to be the Michelangelo of his artistic profession, shows his work on the arm and shoulder of Peter Michell and Dale Grande, right, both of Chicago, during the first world convention of tattoo artists and fans in Houston, Saturday, Jan. 24, 1976. Center is Fredrick M. Johnson of Austin, Texas with an Eagle on his chest which is said to be the old art form. Raven's work is more contemporary. Raven decided 15 years ago to become a tattoo artists, his first step was to find another tattoo artist to teach him. The artistry is a craft passed down by personal teaching. (AP Photo/Ed Kolenovsky)"


Thanks, Jane, for the link!