5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not my usual fare, June 2, 2010
This review is from: The Tattooed Lady: A History (Hardcover)
"The Tattooed Lady: A History" by first-time author Amelia Klem Ostrud is not my usual fare. But as "HistoryGuy1," I could not overlook this coffee-table book when I came across it at my local library.
Indeed, this is history, good history, a "peoples history" with solid documentation, a work not to be overlooked.
With many great photos, Osterud delivers a compelling narrative to describe the history of "tattooed ladies." Full-body-canvas tattooed ladies first appeared in the third quarter of the 19th century. They most often began as circus performers with outfits like Barnum and Bailey, the Ringling Brothers and other traveling circus shows. These early tattooed ladies "boldy went where none had gone before" in becoming a full body canvas for the curious to gaze upon.
In the era of sideshow "freaks," the tattooed lady took her place on the platform with giants, midgets, "the fat lady," "the thin man," "the bearded lady" and other freaks of nature. The "show" provided by the tattooed lady was to allow herself to be looked upon. A tattooed lady would exhibit parts of her body not normally seen by any man or any woman in public.
The artwork on the early tattooed ladies tended to mimic the artwork of tattooed men, sailor art in particular. Osterud points out that as the tattooed lady moved into the twentieth century she tended to choose artwork with a more feminine and distinctive touch, diverging from the artwork chosen by men.
Osterud provides background and insight into the mythology surrounding the tattooed ladies who "had gone the distance with body art." In direct contradiction of the myth, these famous tattooed ladies willingly and consciously chose to become tattooed ladies, defying the social mores of the era. Osterud points out that these women of mostly working class background could make a good living and achieve a level of independence that peers in their social class could never achieve.
"The Tattooed Lady" is an original work of social, economic and class history and a truly fun read.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My sis loved it!, January 6, 2011
This review is from: The Tattooed Lady: A History (Hardcover)
By far the BEST tattoo book around. I gave this to my sister who loves and appreciates tattoos as a form of body art and expression. She absolutely loves it.
She said it is a great read, and amazing photos.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
the tattood lady a history, August 20, 2010
This review is from: The Tattooed Lady: A History (Hardcover)
This bookis an absolute for any tattoo perveyer!
The background indepth knowledge of tattood womans begginnings.
heaps of old photos with eesntal information that shows woman at their best.highly reccomended 5 star great book worth getting , i highly reccomend
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