"Paradise Island" Tattoo Flash Drawing

Known as “tattoo flash,” these colorful drawings, largely by self-taught artists, shed a light on the deviant spirit of an earlier time. They were hung in tattoo parlors in the 30s and 40s to be selected as designs for permanent skin art. The practice was generally frowned upon. Still, tattoos became popular among soldiers and sailors who bore one or two on their arms to signify fealty to a military unit, document bravery, or express love for someone back home. With the popularity of tattooing today, vintage flash art has become wildly collectible. We are lucky to have acquired a sizable collection of excellent examples and are excited about the yin they bring to our yang.