Wonderful Women With Wicked Tattoos: 1900-2000

heavy-tattooed woman at a tattoo parlour, USA, circa 1930.

Woman at a tattoo parlour, USA, circa 1930.

 

Women with tattoos certainly isn’t new. We’ve pulled together these pictures of inked women from 1900-2000. This way to see the painted ladies…

 

circa 1935: Four women cabaret performers in costume

circa 1935: Four women cabaret performers in costume

 

20th May 1977:  A Swastika-wearing Swedish Punk Rocker.  (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)

20th May 1977: A Swastika-wearing Swedish Punk Rocker. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)

10th February 1972:  A loving couple, Ivor and Marianne Collier, display their mutual adoration and taste for tattooes.  (Photo by Ian Tyas/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

10th February 1972: A loving couple, Ivor and Marianne Collier, display their mutual adoration and taste for tattooes. (Photo by Ian Tyas/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

 

Circus attraction turned tattooist Irene 'Bobbie' Libarry, (photographed in 1976) followed in the footsteps of pioneering female tattooist, Maud Wagner

Circus attraction turned tattooist Irene ‘Bobbie’ Libarry, (photographed in 1976) followed in the footsteps of pioneering female tattooist, Maud Wagner

 

Australian model, Cindy Ray, had become a global superstar by 1962 - all thanks to her elaborate tattoos

Australian model, Cindy Ray, had become a global superstar by 1962 – all thanks to her elaborate tattoos

By the 1920s, tattoos were seen as seriously stylish, including by this woman seen being inked by legendary Bowery tattooist Charlie Wagner

By the 1920s, tattoos were seen as seriously stylish, including by this woman seen being inked by legendary Bowery tattooist Charlie Wagner

May 1956:  A tattoo artist paints a permanent beauty spot onto the cheek of a female client at his workshop in Copenhagen.  (Photo by John Firth/BIPs/Getty Images)

May 1956: A tattoo artist paints a permanent beauty spot onto the cheek of a female client at his workshop in Copenhagen. (Photo by John Firth/BIPs/Getty Images)

20th September 1938:  An artist creating skin motifs for evening wear on models at the Hair and Beauty Fair, Olympia, London.  (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

20th September 1938: An artist creating skin motifs for evening wear on models at the Hair and Beauty Fair, Olympia, London. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

14th November 1936:  A film fan uses a mirror to admire the image of film star Gary Gooper she has had tattooed on her back by George Burchett a London tattooist.  (Photo by William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

14th November 1936: A film fan uses a mirror to admire the image of film star Gary Gooper she has had tattooed on her back by George Burchett a London tattooist. (Photo by William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

circa 1930:  A tattoo enthusiast whose body is covered with images of dragons, flowers and religious scenes.  (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)

circa 1930: A tattoo enthusiast whose body is covered with images of dragons, flowers and religious scenes. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)

March 1928:  A woman having an image of a snake tattooed onto her thigh by tattooist, George Burchett.  (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

March 1928: A woman having an image of a snake tattooed onto her thigh by tattooist, George Burchett. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Grin And Bear It

CANADA - JULY 25: Beachcomber Bill's wife; Brenda; smiles from table as he shows how he applies tattoo. She's had 28 in past 8 years. Joanne Smith; 20; wife of his partner watches. She's been tattooed 45 times in past 2 years; all of them visible when she's in a bikini. My parents didn't accept it; Joanne said. My father had been in the navy. He didn't have tattoos; although many other sailors did. What he couldn't accept was a tattoo on a woman. They don't discuss it. (Photo by Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

CANADA – JULY 25: Beachcomber Bill’s wife; Brenda; smiles from table as he shows how he applies tattoo. She’s had 28 in past 8 years. Joanne Smith; 20; wife of his partner watches. She’s been tattooed 45 times in past 2 years; all of them visible when she’s in a bikini. My parents didn’t accept it; Joanne said. My father had been in the navy. He didn’t have tattoos; although many other sailors did. What he couldn’t accept was a tattoo on a woman. They don’t discuss it. (Photo by Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

17th August 1973:  An American tattoo artist working on a client's shoulder.  (Photo by F. Roy Kemp/BIPs/Getty Images)

17th August 1973: An American tattoo artist working on a client’s shoulder. (Photo by F. Roy Kemp/BIPs/Getty Images)

17th August 1973:  An American tattoo artist working on a client's shoulder.  (Photo by F. Roy Kemp/BIPs/Getty Images)

17th August 1973: An American tattoo artist working on a client’s shoulder. (Photo by F. Roy Kemp/BIPs/Getty Images)

February 1965: A tattooist painting a bluebird on a woman's breast.   (Photo by Jim Ryan/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

February 1965: A tattooist painting a bluebird on a woman’s breast. (Photo by Jim Ryan/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

A tattooist at work on a client.    (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

A tattooist at work on a client. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

April 1960:  Tattooist Les Skuse at work on champion tattoo lady Pam Nash who has a large Japanese scene across her back.  (Photo by John Pratt/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

April 1960: Tattooist Les Skuse at work on champion tattoo lady Pam Nash who has a large Japanese scene across her back. (Photo by John Pratt/Keystone Features/Getty Images)

IN this photograph, Al Schiefley and Les Skuse apply ink to a willing dish.

IN this photograph, Al Schiefley and Les Skuse apply ink to a willing dish. 1955

 27/2/1953 – The wife of an Ainu chief displays tattoo around her lips in Hokkaido.

27/2/1953 – The wife of an Ainu chief displays tattoo around her lips in Hokkaido.

Skinheads of London were captured on camera by Derek Ridgers. Between 1979 and 1984

Skinheads of London were captured on camera by Derek Ridgers. Between 1979 and 1984. MORE

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