Tattoos, just like any other art form, offer a picture of the culture and belief of a people. In South America, too, the same is happening and has been happening since time immemorial.
These tattoos, also known as Chicano tattoos, have a distinct ‘loud’ character because they are usually very colourful and large. To understand the inspiration behind Mexican tattoos, here’s a brief history of the tradition.
The area now known as Mexico was the home to several Mesoamerican cultures such as the Maya, Aztec, Olmec and Toltec. These were the major tribes occupying the region.
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However, the Aztecs could be considered the most successful because they managed to conquer other neighbouring tribes to create an empire. Thus, it is understandable why the Aztec influence on Mexican tattoo art is so profound.
Depending on the type of tattoo, they have various meanings. The one common factor in all designs, however, is that they all have a religious background, originating from the beliefs of the Mexican people.
This is one of the most common design of a tattoo to originate from the Mexican region. Every year the people of Mexico have a celebration to remember the dead called ‘Día de Muertos’.
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They believe that death should not be just a sad occasion, which we ought to celebrate the passing of our loved ones to a better place. These tattoos also remind us of the fragility of life, and that we are all going to die someday. I know, it sounds a bit dark, but the tattoos are anything but.
These tattoos are made from a skull, which is then further embellished in order to be more colourful, just as is typical in all Mexican tattoos. The skulls are coloured in various colours to indicate a specific meaning such as white for the purity of a passed soul.
When the tattoo includes more than a skull, the skeleton is usually in a joyful mood, maybe singing or dancing, all to show happiness. To make the tattoo even more colourful, flowers may even be added.
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On the Mexican flag is the image of an eagle, and the same eagle is the country’s coat of arms. In order to show patriotism to the country, many Mexicans get these tattoos.
Besides the Mexican citizens, other people are getting attracted to the beauty of the eagle and the colours of the flag: green, white and red.
The Mexican eagle, though, is particularly unique because it has a snake in its mouth and is also perched on a cactus plant. These are symbols of the Mexican environment but also tell a story of the Aztec ancestors who believed in the eagle as a source of strength for battle.
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The snake represents Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god and the most powerful. He was believed to be the god of weather, creativity and fertility.
For identification, Mexican mafia members, which is the largest gang, get similar tattoos to differentiate themselves from other gangs. They are usually done with the simple initials ‘MM’ or a more ornate eagle holding a snake with the initials ‘EME’.
Prison tattoos, on the other hand, are mostly very detailed and commonly include a depiction of a Christian symbol such as Christ, the cross or the Virgin Mary.
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One of the most successful and tribes to exist in the Mesoamerica were the Aztecs. They managed to create the Aztec empire through ingenuity in architecture. Besides the warring side of the people, they were hugely religious, practicing rich and complex religious traditions.
They also expressed their religious beliefs through art, and tattooing was one of the art forms. The Aztecs believed nothing was more personal than a tattoo to express your love for God, and so the Aztecs were heavily tattooed, and even the children were not left behind.
Although they were pretty advanced for their time, the tools they used were primitive and the designs were pretty rudimentary. They got tattoos for either identification between the tribes, to honour a specific god or as a symbol of status.
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Tribal Aztec tattoos are very common these days because of their symbolic meaning. They are not exactly pretty and people get them to honour the culture of the once powerful Aztecs.
Other Aztec related images you can use for tattoo designs include the Aztec blade, an Aztec warrior skull or an Aztec princess image.
All the designs share some similarities, though, for example, the sun is usually included somewhere, even just by a simple circle. This was in honour of the sun god Huitzilopochtli, the guardian of the heavens. Nowadays, the symbol of the sun indicates a belief in the afterlife.
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The moon can be seen in the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which is an image of the Virgin Mary standing on a crescent moon being supported by an angel, then there is a light emanating from her body like a halo.
This image is the product of an ancient tale of a man who was apparently visited by the Virgin Mary and it was left on his poncho. Again, this is just a myth, but it goes further to illustrate just how religious the Mexican people are.
Besides the more common Christian and religious interpretation of the cross, the symbol has actually existed for far longer than that. The Aztec cross, however, is unique because of the circle at the point where the two pieces intersect.
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The Mexican people are very religious, and mostly catholic, so it’s common to find a Chicano tattoo with a Christian reference such as the image of Jesus on the cross.For a creative burst of cultural extravagance, nothing quite matches the stunning significance of a Chicano tattoo. These meaningful designs possess immense capacities for stylish grandiloquence.
These stirring insignias arrive in a wide range of culturally commanding incarnations. To elicit surprisingly dynamic designs, they daringly mix conspicuous urban settings with inspired religious icons. Illustrious graffiti replicas are regularly combined with the legendary countenance of Jesus Christ. The Blessed Virgin Mary is equally astonishing!
By merging a cornucopia of Hispanic themes, Chicano tattoos are the definition of cutting-edge. Day of the Dead imagery lends a visceral core to the genre, especially with the exotic inception of sugar skull designs. For a rampantly cosmopolitan conquest, try out some symbols from the liberated Zapatista movement!
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Of course, other Chicano tattoos focus on unabashed weaponry, heavenly hot rods, and gorgeous Latina pin-ups. Each riveting masterpiece is dashingly unique. Realistic facial features are a centerpiece of this energetically enriching category.
This level of ink rigorously cultivates the unprecedented zenith of honor for one’s own heritage. Be a chivalrous champion of style with one of the debonair delights in our ravishing registry of Chicano tattoos below.
Pinup girls have been common elements in tattoo design for decades; some of the oldest and most popular tattoos w ere pinups in the American traditional style. These Chicano girls take the pinup tradition to the next level. Using an expert application of black and gray ink and a photo-realistic approach , these stunning femme fatales remain some of the most eye-catching and popular Chicano-inspired designs.
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While the Chicano tattoo style may have originated in the United States penal system, the deeply Catholic Mexican tradition means that religious iconography remains common in Chicano tattoos. Images of Christ the Redeemer and crucifixes are common, although the most stunning pieces feature the Virgin of Guadalupe. The fascinating and complex role that Mary play s in Mexican Catholicism provides ample material to draw from and the se tattoos dedicated to the Mother of Christ are exceptional.
The Chicano tattoo style is characterized by black and gray ink and an expert application of smooth shading and fine lines. This subtle approach is perfectly suited for the stern gazes and stone visages of Ancient Greece.
From thinkers like Plato and Socrates , to the blindfolded statue of Lady Justice that graces courtrooms across the country, these dramatic figures are perfect subjects for the subdued elegance that is created in Chicano tattoos. These pieces are great examples of how these marble statues can translate to black and gray tattoos.
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For some people, one tattoo simply isn’t enough; for some people , even a full sleeve isn’t enough. The back is, by far, the largest canvas on the body and for this reason, many people choose to apply large, cohesive designs to the back.
Thanks to the variety of design elements that can be incorporated — everything from payasas with pistolas to the Virgin of Guadalupe — means that the dramatic potential for these full back pieces is practically limitless. With the smooth shading and fine lines that Chicano art is known for, these designs are great examples of what is possible with a talented tattoo artist and a large canvas.
La Calavera Catrina is a character that the early 20 th century cartoonist and printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada created as a jab at wealthy Mexicans he felt were adopting European fashions instead of embracing their indigenous roots.
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Despite this politicized origin, Catrina became a symbol of the Day of the Dead celebration and is now a common element in Chicano art. These interpretations take a more realistic
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