The History of Tattoo Flash
- Livia Michael
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
Greetings, internet! It's Speakeasy Tattoo apprentice, Livia Michael again. 'Flash' is a word that gets used a lot in the context of tattooing. But, what is it? When one walks into a tattoo parlor or visits an artist’s social media page, there are most likely going to be sheets or collections with a multitude of designs. These are known as ‘flash’ or ‘flash sheets.’
Flash sheets are pre-drawn tattoo designs available to be tattooed onto a client immediately. The usage of the word, ‘flash’ can be traced all the way back to the nineteenth century, when the art and business of tattooing was still widely considered taboo and deviant. The etymology of the word is varied, and its usage cannot be traced back to a definite, single instance. One such example derives from the association of tattooing with carny culture. Tattooists that travelled with carnival and circus companies in the mid-to-late nineteenth century would present their work on big posters fashioned into a ‘flash rack’, for potential clients to browse and select their desired tattoo design. Another example involves the transient nature of tattoo artists. Since there was historically a lack of opportunity to open a shop dedicated to tattoo artistry, many tattooists would travel around to different locations (usually bars or barber shops) and practice their art there. They would display their designs and if they needed to change locations, they could leave in a ‘flash,’ taking everything with them.
New York City, particularly the Bowery neighborhood, is incredibly influential to the development and history of flash sheets and tattoo culture. Lewis ‘Lew the Jew’ Alberts was a tattooist in this neighborhood that had learned the art of tattooing while serving in the U.S. Army. However, the lack of craftsmanship and artistic skill presented in the majority of flash sheets encouraged him to refine and improve tattoo flash. He developed and popularized many new flash designs, such as American flags, bald eagles, and stylized cartoon characters. Alberts would also symbiotically learn from and inspire other tattooists on the West Coast of the United States, as they would exchange flash sheets with one another via mail. New York City is considered to be the heart of the tattoo world, even when it was banned from 1961 to 1997, due to health concerns and shifts in societal views. However, this did not halt the practice of tattooing at all, in fact, it only contributed to the popularity and progression of the art form. New York City was and is home to the most influential Western tattoo artists throughout history and has remained steadfast in its existence, whether it was popular and en vogue, or illegal and part of the counterculture.
With the rise of custom tattooing and a variety of tattooists and their styles, tattoo flash has evolved to serve as a portfolio for a tattooist, exemplify their style, and provide a launching pad for a client to be inspired for a custom design. Flash sheets live mostly in the online space at present, which allows an artist to have a broader reach to their clientele. Though tattoo flash can hypothetically be anything, there are common aesthetic trends that can be attributed both to the history of tattooing as well as the practical longevity of a tattoo. Common tropes in tattoo flash include eagles, daggers, nautical imagery, hearts, skulls, pinups, butterflies, and birds. These tropes were popularized by illustrious tattoo artists such as Charlie Wagner, Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins, Bert Grimm, and ‘Lew the Jew’ Alberts. These common illustrative tropes contain bold, clean outlines and rich, vibrant colors, which makes it easier for a tattoo to retain its quality and last for years without many touch-ups (as opposed to a fine line, detail-oriented tattoo).
The history of tattoo flash is one that has evolved greatly over the years, and yet it has remained a staple of the industry. Once a tool of necessity, flash sheets have now become a way for artists to hone their skills, experiment with different styles, as well as draw in new customers to their art business in a way that pays homage to the rich history of tattoo.
Until next week...
-Livia Michael
Sources: