Flash Art of Amund Dietzel

The Flash Art of Amund Dietzel is so classical and traditional, yet they are unique. Each tattoo design has its own feel and originality, yet it is clear that all designs were created by the same artist. It is amazing to look at his work, because Dietzel set the example for many modern tattoo artists, and even today similar designs are seen all the time. I love his work the most, because not only do I adore tattoo art, but with these pieces in particular, I want to take a moment to look beyond the artistic elements and principles and look at the story that this art tells.Old school/traditional tattooing was the start of what it has become today. There weren't "professional" tattoo artists or tattoo artists that had an art degree, and the equipment was not as advanced as it is today, therefore the designs had thick lines and were bold in color. When tattooing first started out, there were many common tattoos, such as the anchor, the sparrow, cherries, a heart, roses, and many more - yet they all held their meaning. Dietzel's work is significant, because to me, his work was the bridge between traditional art and new-age/modern art. While his tattoo designs are still old school and traditional, many of his pieces have great detail, which is all modern tattoos are about - detail, detail, detail. A great example of the intricacy of his work is the bottom sketch. It is not simply a sparrow, a heart, an anchor, or just a traditional design. While there are traditional elements incorporated into the design, it is more complex, having different traditional elements placed into a larger composition, which really - made Dietzel's work stand out. He was a step ahead of the era, which I think it amazing.

Image derived from: Dietzel, Amund. The Flash Art of Amund Dietzel. 1913. Tattoo Art. Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee. Web. 6 Oct 2013. <http://mam.org/exhibitions/details/tattoo.php>.