Definition
What is traditional American tattoo?
Traditional American (or 'old-school') tattoo is a 20th-century American style defined by bold black outlines, a limited colour palette (red, green, yellow, black), and iconic motifs: roses, swallows, daggers, anchors, hearts, skulls.
Pioneered by sailors and made iconic by artists like Sailor Jerry, traditional American tattoos age exceptionally well thanks to their thick lines and saturated fills.
Examples
- Classic rose with banner and lettering
- Swallow on the chest
- Dagger-through-heart piece