Friday, April 8, 2011

Written on the body, or, wearing one's heart on one's epidermis

Sarah Schor, a New York tattoo artist, created this for an Australian client. She refers to Mary as "an eighteenth-century British writer and philosopher [who] used to drink from a chipped teacup" and she comments that "it was interesting doing a lady’s face that wasn’t supposed to be pretty." With her kind permission I  feature her work here, from Portrait of a lady.

I asked Sarah if she could get in touch with the client, but alas she no longer has the contact details. If you love Mary enough to have her inked on your flesh, please get in touch!

10 comments:

  1. Wow, I would LOVE to know more about the person who got the tattoo.

    The tattoo is beautifully done, too.

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  2. Yes -- we can dream, can't we? One day this person (Chris) will show the tattoo to a new friend (Sam). Sam will say, "Who is that?" and Chris will explain. Sam will go away and google for Mary Wollstonecraft, and this site will pop up in the top ten. Sam will idly click on the images label, and this post will pop up. Sam will do a double-take and show it to Chris. Chris may well decide to add a comment here. Hey, Chris, hi! Tell us why you branded yourself with Mary.

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  3. Hi!

    This is my tattoo and i'm slightly overwhelmed it's created some kind of reaction.

    How is best for me to contact you?

    Nastassja

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  4. Hurray! I suspected this would find you sooner or later. Six months from the date I posted this entry: I think that's respectably quick, considering. Anyway, I am *thrilled* to hear from you. Get in touch by email (at the end of the Me page, which is linked on the banner at the top here). I (we) would love to hear your story.

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  5. Vicki, in my limited chaise-longue preconception of you, I did not have you down as an ink-appreciator. I am glad to be proven wrong. Do you know if any of the Clairmont clan indulged?

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  6. Roberta, I live in the sort of city where half the population have tatts, of the skull-and-crossbones, spiders and vulgar oaths kind. It's utterly refreshing to see some really original and well-executed ink. I do not know if the Clairmonts indulge: I suspect MJV would have thought it far too racy. I have toyed with the idea of a small, discreet tatt myself: tossing up between a penguin or Queen Victoria.

    Oh, and I have to disagree that Mary W. wasn't pretty. Or perhaps not pretty, but I think she was quite beautiful.

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  7. We have few images of her (a distinct disadvantage, when trying to commission a visual representation such as Mary on the Green). They depict her as assuredly handsome: handsome, and assured, and assured of her handsomeness. But pretty? She probably was as a young woman, with the vigour of youth. Prettiness fades; handsomeness matures.

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  8. Now there's an aphorism to live by "Prettiness fades; handsomeness matures".

    Also, yes, this is gorgeous ink.

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