Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin, born January 19, 1943, was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, female idols in rock history. Janis’s nickname was Pearl. Somewhere in the ’60s she buried the old Janis Lyn and began the second part of her life as Pearl. “I’m tired of being Janis, call me Pearl,” she said. Not only Janis Joplin, but also her tattoo on her wrist remain a subject of imagination for many.
Janis Joplin’s wrist tattoo
Her wrist tattoo is not only a symbol of the legend that Janis Joplin remains, but also a symbol of women’s liberation. Her design represents a Florentine bracelet and was placed on the outside of her wrist. Her tattoo is black, with a mixture of another color. The exact colors are difficult to determine due to the fact that there are only a few black and white photos of the design available. A Florentine bracelet is a historical piece of jewelry. Florentine goldsmiths of the 15th century chiseled the metal and filled the engraved ornaments with a compound of lead, sulfur and silver. The result was a high-contrast, highly visible design. Much like Janis, one of the first famous wearers of a wrist tattoo in modern pop culture, being highly visible and contrasting. The one with my boob is for me and my friends.” She paused and chuckled, “Just a little treat for the kids, like icing on the cake.”
lyle tuttle
Lyle Tuttle, born in 1931, is one of the biggest legends in the tattoo industry. He began his career as a tattoo artist in 1949. Tuttle has been a major positive influence in bringing tattooing from the underground to the mainstream. The great artist tattooed the famous design on Janis’s wrist at her Seventh Street store in San Francisco. When asked for his explanation for the fact that tattoos gained popularity in the 1950s, he replied: “Women’s liberation! One hundred percent women’s liberation!” Women were free to get a tattoo if they wanted. This development resulted in Tuttle tattooing almost nothing but women and changed the perspective tattooing was in. “Women made tattooing a softer, kinder art form.” Tuttle said. Lyle Tuttle retired from tattooing in 1990.
Janis Joplin’s wrist tattoo as a symbol of feminine power.
Tuttle’s best-known clients are pop stars Janis Joplin and Cher. Both are women known for being strong. The tattoos of her have certainly contributed to the image. Joplin is said to break that masculine barrier. She made women stronger, more assertive and self-confident. That must be one of the reasons why the Florentine bracelet design is a very popular design for a wrist tattoo for women to this day.