A brief history and evolution of tattooing.

Tattoos have a rich and ancient history that dates back to thousands of years ago. The earliest known tattoos were discovered on the skin of Egyptian mummies, which date back to around 2000 BCE. These tattoos were simple geometric designs and were likely used for spiritual or religious purposes.

The art of tattooing also had a significant place in ancient cultures such as the Greeks, Romans, and Celts. The Greeks used tattoos as a form of punishment, while the Romans tattooed slaves and criminals. The Celts, on the other hand, used tattoos as a form of tribal identification and as a way to show social status.

Tattoos have a rich and ancient history that spans across many different cultures and continents. The art form has been used for a variety of purposes, including spiritual and religious, cultural, and practical. Despite the different meanings and uses of tattoos throughout history, one thing remains constant: tattoos have always been a powerful form of self-expression and have played an important role in human history.

Tattooing was popular among sailors and soldiers in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it fell out of favour in the early 20th century due to its association with the criminal underworld. While it did stay reserved for the notorious, Tattooing experienced a resurgence in the 1960s and 1970s, thanks in part to the influence of counterculture movements such as the hippie and punk scenes. 

Early traditional methods of tattooing, such as hand-poking and stick-and-poke, are still used by some artists today.

The invention of the electric tattoo machine in 1891 by Samuel O'Reilly marked a major turning point in the history of tattooing. The machine allowed for faster, more precise work and made tattooing more accessible to a wider range of people. 

With the advancement of tattooing techniques and the increasing popularity of tattoos, tattooing become an art form in its own right, and tattoo artist seen as true artist. Today, tattoos have moved beyond being just a form of self-expression to being considered as a medium for art.

From ancient rituals to modern self-expression, the art of tattooing has evolved and will continue to evolve in the future.