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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Josy Forsdike

How tattoos evolved down the ages – in pictures

Tattoos: Traditional Japanese tattoo
Traditional Japanese tattoos Photograph: Martin Hladik/Tatttooinjapan.com
Tattoos: Artoria Circus Lady
Artoria Circus Lady
Painting by Titine Leu, 2000
Tattooed by her husband R Gibbons, 1921-1924 Photograph: © The Leu Family's Family Iron
Tattoos: Captain Costentenus tattooed by order of Yakoob Begin 19th Century
Captain Costentenus, tattooed by order of Yakoob Beg in the 19th century Photograph: City of Chaumont/© Dutailly Fund
Tattoos: Portrait de Maras
Portrait de Maras
Spain, 2006 Photograph: Isabel Muñoz
Tattoos: Flottenbesuch in Hamburg 1966
Flottenbesuch in Hamburg 1966.
Sailors are tattooed during a fleet visit Photograph: ©Courtesy Herbert Hoffmann and Galerie Gebr. Lehmann Dresden/Berlin
Tattoos: Images provenant du Recueil Lacassagne
Images from Lacassagne collection
Anthropometric photographs taken between 1920 and 1940 in the photographic laboratory of the police headquarters in Lyon under the responsibility of Dr Jean Lacassagne, the son of Alexander, the founder of modern scientific police work Photograph: © Gdalessandro/ENSP
Tattoos: Images provenant du Recueil Lacassagne
More images from the Lacassagne collection Photograph: © Gdalessandro/ENSP
Tattoos: La dernière femme Kalinga tatouée
La dernière femme Kalinga tatouée
Philippines Photograph: Jake Verzosa
Tattoos: Paravent, répertoire de tatoueur
Paravent, répertoire de tatoueur
19th century Egyptian wooden door with glass tiles illustrated with figures in red, green, yellow, blue and black on white Photograph: Claude Germain/©musée du quai Branly
Tattoos: Portrait de femme Algérienne, 1960
Portrait de femme Algérienne, 1960 Photograph: Collection de l'artiste © Marc Garanger
Tattoos: Tatouage
An 'embroidered' tattoo on the back of a native of Gasmata, Papua New Guinea, circa 1935. These body ornamentations were produced by scarification Photograph: Edmond Demaître /© musée du quai Branly
Tattoos: An ornate pendant
An ornate pendant representing a linear decoration and pattern of punctuation reminiscent of a Naga facial tattoo Photograph: Claude Germain /©musée du quai Branly
Tattoos: The Marine Corps bulldog, USA
The Marine Corps bulldog, US Photograph: © coll. Sailor Jerry T
Tattoos: Women wearing tattoos and costumes
Women wearing costumes to complement their tattoos Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis
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