![]() The same roses, birds, and panthers that were popular 50 years ago are still tattooed today. Animals, lighthouses, flowers, and skulls are still tattooed today in the Neo-traditional style. ![]() Neo-Traditional tattoo designs haven’t strayed far from traditional motifs and symbols. Yet, it’s not only these qualities that make up the Neo-traditional style. ![]() To recap, a tattoo is Neo-traditional if it includes: More refined techniques also made it possible to design more intricately. By the 1970’s, tattoo artists not only began to develop a wider array of ink colors. Modern ink and machinery paved the way for the emergence of Neo-Traditional tattoo art. Because of modern techniques, Neo-traditional tattoos also take on a more 3-dimensional appearance. Its techniques involve deeper dimensions and a variety of line widths and colors. In the simplest terms, Neo-Traditionalism is a modern expansion of American traditionalism. So, what categorizes a tattoo as Neo-traditional? The Qualities of Neo-Traditionalism If you were to look up tattoos on Instagram, it’s likely that Neo-traditional tattoos would appear. But as the years went on, the traditional style evolved. The color palette was still limited up until the middle of the 20th century. Other colors, like red, were later introduced later on. The earliest traditional tattoos were entirely done in black. These types of tattoos are what distinguished traditionalism as a romanticized style.īy older standards, no other style was ever as intricate as American traditionalism. Traditional tattoos were not always representative of sailor voyages.īy the 1970’s, tattoos of birds, American flags, roses, skulls, and panthers tattooed in the traditional style grew in popularity. And they were certainly popular with not only sailors, but soldiers, blue-collar workers, and people on the fringes of society. This was likely attributed to the limitations of older tattoo machines.Īt the time, however, the traditional style was the most evolved style. With that said, traditional tattoos incorporate few details. They implement well-defined lines, bold shading, with few contrasting colors. These tattoos are not only 2-dimensional. The first electric tattoo machine, patented in 1891 by Samuel O’Reilly, made this evolution possible.Īmerican traditionalism of the 20th century became known for its simplistic style. To commemorate their voyages, sailors would tattoo sea-related emblems, like ships and fish.īy the 20th century, the traditional style began to stray away from sailor culture. Sailors were initially inspired by tattoos innovated by the indigenous communities they encountered. The style of traditionalism was first developed by sailors hundreds of years ago. So, what exactly is American traditionalism and when did it first develop? American Traditionalism To understand Neo-traditional tattoos, we first have to understand the American traditional style. Though outdated, these tattoos are pertinent to the prominence of Neo-traditionalism. After all, traditional tattoos reached their height by the 1940’s and 1950’s. Senior citizens are likely the only people around today with these kinds of tattoos. And it’s likely a style that you’ve seen before in movies or photographs, if not in real life. The tattoos we’ve described are of the American traditional style. Have you ever seen a person bearing a tattoo of a skeleton with a sailor hat on their bicep? Perhaps you’ve seen someone with a tattoo of a swallow carrying roses in its mouth?ĭid these tattoos incorporate black ink and maybe one or two other colors? Were the lines bold and defined?ĭid the tattoos seem 2-dimensional? Perhaps they seemed outdated in comparison to the kinds of tattoos you see today? Let’s begin! The Roots of Neo-Traditionalism We’ll also explore what makes this style so unique and renowned. In this article, we’ll explore the history of Neo-traditional tattoo art. So, what exactly is a Neo-traditional tattoo? ![]() And this style on its own is continuing to evolve stylistically every year. They’re a distinguished Western style with a strong global presence. Neo-traditional tattoos have deep historical roots. With that said, there are dozens upon dozens of tattoo styles practiced all over the world.īut if one style stands out most in the modern age, Neo-traditionalism takes the win. And today, the possibilities are endless when it comes to design and style. Tattoos have always meant something personal to the individual. And they’ve been present across every major time period since.Īlthough tattoos are much more evolved today, their significance remains the same. The earliest evidence of tattoos date back to around 2,000 BC in ancient Egypt. Tattoos have long represented the diverse history of humans. Neo-Traditional Tattoos: History and Design IdeasĪs the name suggests, neo-traditional tattoos are a take on the earlier traditional style tattoos.
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