Buzzworthy Tattoo History: Illuminating Tattooing’s Past
Welcome! Buzzworthy Tattoo History features hard-earned, well-researched, original tattoo history, as well as, updates on relevant tattoo news, events, and projects, by Tattoo Historian Carmen Forquer Nyssen.
See Tattoo Projects page for my otherwise authored works, as well as Buzzworthy Tattoo History articles and my additional research, which have been resourced in many significant enterprises, including a variety of publishing venues; major exhibitions; museum archives; and international University theses/dissertations, some as listed below or as seen on Academia.edu, online profiles of Universities, and in academic journals. (There are also numerous uncredited major works).
Friendly Reminder: Buzzworthy Tattoo History is chock-full of original research. Please properly cite my work and/or seek contractual permissions for extended usage of intellectual property, including images.
Feature Articles:
I’m particularly proud of the below Buzzworthy Tattoo History ‘Feature Articles’ that comprise my original research on the emergence of electric tattooing and the tattoo trade on the New York Bowery. This groundbreaking documentation and analysis has brought a significantly greater understanding to the early years of tattooing and its progression into modern times, and I’m pleased to have made such an important contribution to a subject I hold dear. (This research, in particular, has been resourced in numerous academic thesis/dissertations and a variety of publications and exhibitions).
For more of my research on the early emergence of the tattoo trade see:
Barnum and Bunnell’s Tattooed Humbugs: Manifesting a Tattoo Trade
A Tattooed Affair: Earliest Tattooed Attractions
For more of my research on the emergence and evolution of electric tattooing see:
Ever-Evolving Tattoo Machines by Carmen Forquer Nyssen, full feature article published in the 2018 tattoo anthology TTT: Tattoo by Maxime Buschi & Nicholas Schonberger. And Birth of the Tattoo Trade New York Bowery by Carmen Nyssen
About Buzzworthy Tattoo History & Carmen Nyssen
My passion for researching, studying, and writing about the multi-faceted history of tattooing was inspired by my Great, Great Uncle, revered twentieth century tattoo artist Bert Grimm. It all started over 20 years ago, when I began documenting my family tree. Hearing family stories about Bert Grimm passed on by my grandma and other relatives hooked me from the start and sent me on an awe-inspiring journey to uncover more about his amazing career—and that of many other tattooers! The more I dug into tattoo history, the more I fell in love with it. I wanted to properly capture its essence and solidify Bert Grimm’s place in it. So, I rolled up my sleeves, and bit by bit built what today amounts to a varied foundation of knowledge and substantial archive of original tattoo history research.
Today, I run my own tattoo history blog, write for various publications, and also have the pleasure of working with tattoo artists, fellow tattoo historians, academics, publishers, museum staff, et cetera, on their wonderful projects. All of this has opened my life to so many opportunities and meeting new friends and I’m grateful for it all.
For me, the draw is in the magical layers of tattooing’s history and its deep sense of interconnectedness across time. Tattoo history consists of an ancient interwoven web of the sacred and profane, set in a diversity of scenes. Every facet informs a greater whole—in iterations to present day. My aim with Buzzworthy Tattoo History, and other projects, is to illuminate this inherent richness of the history in new and interesting ways, through outside-the-box investigative approaches and a wide lens of discovery. This entails everything from genealogical and archival studies, to material culture and general historical research, and of course, simply being in the flow of tattoo culture.
Creating such meaningful windows into tattooing’s past means going the extra mile. Literally. In addition to examining the usual resources at home—documents, books, tattoo material, and the internet—I’ve embarked on many a road trip to: visit libraries, museums, and archives; seek out grave markers, attend exhibits and conventions; and glean impressionistic remembrances of long forgotten tattoo neighborhoods. I’ve also had the pleasure of visiting with and/or interviewing scores of tattoo artists, relatives of tattoo artists, and other relatable characters. The friends and personal connections I’ve made along the way brings a tangible authenticity to the history that can’t be substituted.
It is my sincerest hope that what I do helps keep the essence of tattooing alive and that my creative spirit and enthusiasm shines through my work and brings enjoyment to others.
Recent Publication: I’m so pleased to have been included in the 600-page, progressive anthology of New York City Tattoo History: Tribal Publishing’s 2023, In the Shadows: The People’s History of New York City Underground Tattooing. My article is the 2nd full feature after the introduction, Willy Moskowitz: Bowery-Barber tattoo Artist, a work also archived at the Art Institute of Chicago, as literary testimony for their 1932 Reginald Marsh painting Tattoo, Shave, Haircut (a work based on Willy Moskowitz’s tattoo-barber shop, as per my research). (Also see the pre-published online article, with images, here).
Bert Grimm: I’ve uncovered surprising, previously unknown history about Bert Grimm and the many tattoo artists he encountered, including his foremost mentors, the revered Sailor George Fosdick and Sailor Charlie Barrs, and many other significant influencers. See the Buzzworthy Bert Grimm page for a short overview of his career …with more to come!!
I would love to to hear from anyone with information about Bert Grimm, or any tattoo artists related to his history!
See full list of projects and publications on the Tattoo Projects page.
Visit the various Buzzworthy Tattoo History sections for further history:
The ‘Feature Articles’ section showcases more extensive research, while the ‘Tattoo History General’ and ‘Tattoo Artist Bios’ section offers short historical overviews on tattoo artists and the settings they worked in. Also see the New York ‘Bowery Tattoo History‘ section for a collection of related articles (features and blog posts).
Questions or Comments? Email:
carmennyssen@buzzworthytattoo.com
Latest Buzzworthy Posts
Latest Buzzworthy Posts
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Templeton Crocker & Brooklyn Blackie: A Tattoo Tale with a Twist
3 years ago -
The Loryeas: A Jewish Immigrant Family’s Curious Connections with Tattooing
4 years ago -
Barnum & Bunnell’s Tattooed Humbugs: Manifesting a Tattoo Trade
4 years ago -
A Tattooed Affair: Earliest Tattooed Attractions
4 years ago -
Grand Lineages of Tattooing
5 years ago -
Wortham’s Shows Web of Tattooed Attractions
5 years ago -
Prof. Jacob Londella: Tattooer of San Francisco’s Old Chinatown
5 years ago -
Pacific Northwest Tattooers, Oregon Ben & Friends
5 years ago -
Portland Oregon’s Early Tattoo Traditions
5 years ago -
Tattoo Magic on Main Street
5 years ago