It has always been one of the most striking bearers of meaning in social hierarchy. Tattoos have adorned kings, have marked criminals, and, nowadays, are becoming more associated with the middle class, a development that is the subject matter of the present work. Tattooing has adopted a multifaceted personality that oscillates between superficial adorning and sentimental value, commercialism and aesthetic experimentation, alternative looks and collector’s value. In doing so, tattooing reserves a hefty dose of irony through its permanence in an age where concepts like fashion and personal aesthetics are more ephemeral than ever before.
