FRIEDMAN, Anna Felicity (2015). The World Atlas of Tattoo, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, ISBN 978-0-300-32048-4. Hardback, 400 pp., fully illustrated, no bibliography, index. Price: €34.95.
A fully illustrated book with mainly close-ups and some distance shots of a very wide range of tattoos on various parts of the body (mainly arms, chests, backs and legs). The book has been divided into North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Asia and finally Australia and the Oceanic Islands. Then the work of a number of tattoo artists from each of these geographical locations has been photographed and described in expanded captions.
Tattoos form an important part of self-identity and have grown in popularity over the last few decades. As such it is a significant part of the study of dress and identity. Some of the designs are traditional, others reflect modern trends, as well as abstract and hyper-realistic forms. All tattoos are photographed in high resolution imagery and at times are quite stunning.
Recommendation: This book is about modern day tattoo artists from around the world rather than a history of tattooing (which dates back at least 6000 years and is probably much older). If you are into tattoos, this is a book for you!
Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, 1 January 2023
