Death and the Standing Naked One Tattoo by John Beckmann

This was originally an etching created by Hans Sebald Beham in 1547. The original features an hour glass near the feet and an engraved stone that reads, “Omnem In Homine Venvstatem Mors Abolet.” This roughly translates to, “all human beauty ends with death.” Beham, as shown in the style of the image, clearly studied Durer and the earlier German engraving masters.

This was the third tattoo I ever did on myself (yes, I actually was the one who did the tattooing on myself); my first attempt at shading.