Love Affair with Tahiti and Tattoos

Tattoos

The Word Tattoo is Tahitian

I understand that it is all the rage to tattoo your body. From one little tattoo to packin’ them in there from head to toe. I understand. I get it. The fact remains that when I was growing up only convicts and sailors had tattoos. Therefore, since Moe is neither a convict nor a sailor, she won’t be sporting tats anytime soon.

The above painting of the Bay of Tahiti shows two women in the lower-right corner and they are wearing tattoos.

Here is a detail of the painting showing the woman’s tattoos.

Discretion is the Better Part of Valor

Tattoos are an integral part of ancient Polynesian culture. Captain Cook was the first European to introduce the word tattoo, from the Polynesian word ‘tatau’, into Western society. Girls and boys were traditionally tattooed after they entered puberty. During my brief time on these islands, I noticed that only men wore visible tattoos. I never saw tattoos on women; perhaps they are concealed. Maybe it would behoove American culture to adopt this practice.