TATTOO, HENK SCHIFFMACHER
His Personal Collection From 1730s to 1970s
Henk Schiffmacher knows the sting of a tattoo needle, the exquisite buzz of its artistry, and the beauty of truly well-executed ink on a person’s skin. As a Dutch tattoo artist, tattoo ephemera collector, and tattoo historian who goes by the too-cool nickname Hanky Panky, Henk has worked steadily in the industry for decades. He’s inked some pretty famous skin, too, having worked on singers and musicians from Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain to members of Pearl Jam, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Motorhead.
Now, with the publication of Taschen’s TATTOO: 1730s – 1970s just out this month, Henk’s more-than-skin-deep appreciation of the art form comes through in full, lush, and vivid color. Digging into the history of tattooing, from cultures like the Maori and Japanese tattoo enthusiasts to the infamously inked-up sailors and exhibitionists, this Taschen tome doesn’t shy away from a single aspect of the fascinating and visually rich tattoo landscape, travelling over 200 years of richly diverse narratives and exciting visual culture. From etchings to lithographs to gorgeously photographed moments in tattoo history, it’s all here for your viewing pleasure, almost like Henk threw open his exhaustive collection and pulled you in for an up close and personal look into his own obsessions.
In this collector’s item of a book (with just 10,000 printed and numbered first edition copies!), Henk’s full appreciation of the art form bleeds right on through from the page and into our eyeballs. Beyond merely being a whiz at the needle, Henk’s full authority as a historian, a tattoo obsessive, a collector, and an avid ink hound comes through in these pages, along with his wryly Dutch sense of humor. One look at these pages and you’ll see why Henk was even decorated and recognized by the king and queen of the Netherlands, receiving the highest possible honor given to a civilian, thanks to his commitment to his art.
If you just can’t get enough of Hanky Panky, be sure to check out the video below, get just a taste of his dry Dutch humor, and pick up a copy of TATTOO: 1730s – 1970s if you’re lucky enough to find one.
