Born in the streets and prisons of Chicano culture in the 1940s and ’50s, Lettering stands as one of the most authentic forms of self-expression in tattooing. These inscriptions, often drawn freehand, told stories of belonging, family, neighborhood, and cultural pride, becoming personal manifestos permanently written on the skin.
Over time, the calligraphic elegance of the Chicano style, rooted in Gothic fonts, cursive scripts, and Latin characters, has influenced generations of tattoo artists across the world.
Today, Lettering continues to evolve: from graffiti-inspired designs, where letters turn into gestures and movement, to 3D renderings that use perspective and chiaroscuro to make text appear carved in stone rather than inked on skin.
IS THIS THE GENRE FOR YOU?
You can find great inspiration in our digital library tattooebooks.com. Find your favourite style, by choosing from the categories where the ebooks, created by the big international names in tattooing, are divided.
