Grim Reaper Tattoos

Grim Reaper tattoos invoke that ancient dark personification of death that has been found in nearly every culture of the world. Inspired by early European folklore, these supernatural tattoos deftly combine the mythological with the morbid into one of the most interesting tat styles ever conceived.

Grim Reaper tattoos derive much of their visual look from European depictions of the figure of death that began to pop up in the 15th century. With a black robe, inspired by the robe priests wore at the deathbed, and customary scythe, used to gather sinning souls like a peasant gathers corn in a field, these designs have become favorites among tat customers and tattoo artists alike.

Though Grim Reaper tattoos have a generally accepted visual template, they can be modified and adjusted to any visual tat style. Grim Reaper tats have been successfully inked in styles as diverse as tribal, bio-mechanical, old school, and new school. Even Celtic variants are beginning to show up with their mixture of complex knot work and modern reaper imagery.

Grim Reaper tattoos are especially popular as both arm tattoos and back tattoos, but can easily be done pretty much anywhere. Grim Reaper tattoos are also great to use as a centerpiece for additional tattoo work or even to cover up earlier tats that didn’t work so well. Many tattoo artists consider them the ultimate expression of their artistry and many of the grim reaper tattoo designs are chosen directly from artist’s flash book.

Grim Reaper tattoos are bold and audacious and make for some awesome body art---whether in a traditional black and gray shading, or with a more modern use of color. Death has always had a fascinating grasp on the human imagination, both positive and negative, and these scary tat designs are no different. Just make sure you get the tattoo design that is individual to you—and not just some design somebody told you looks cool.

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