Ink art: beautiful portraits of people and their tattoos - Researchers recently discovered two 5,000-year-old Egyptian mummies adorned with tattoos. The male had a Barbary sheep on his upper arm and the female had S-shaped motifs on her upper arm and shoulder, proving that tattoos have long been a part of human history. Tattoos can take on different meanings, from deeply personal to purely artistic.

Click through the gallery for beautiful images of people and their ink. (Photo by Jake Davies)

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Tattooed female - Wild, blue smoke surrounds a tatted woman.

(Photo by Hello I'm Nik)

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Tatted woman -

A shot of a inked woman taken in Petrópolis, Brazil.

(Photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos)

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Ink shop -

A tattoo shop in Boracay, Malay, Philippines.

(Photo by Nuno Antunes)

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Woman -

An woman with a sleeve of tats in Florida, United States.

(Photo by Javier Reyes)

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Man - Man with face tattoos.

(Photo by Corey Motta)

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Coffee shop -

A tatted barista in Bar Nine, Culver City, United States.

(Photo by Tyler Nix)

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Staircase -

A tatted lady in a stairwell in Boston, United States.

(Photo by Alex Iby)

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Satellite -

An inked woman on top of Park La Brea Apartments in Los Angeles, United States.

(Photo by Devin Avery)

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Black and white -

A tatted man in Kiev, Ukraine.

(Photo by Jake Davies)

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Cake and coffee -

A tatted arm in Cascais, Portugal.

(Photo by Luiz Felipe)

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Bookworm -

A woman with a tatted sleeve holds a book in Southampton, United Kingdom.

(Photo by Annie Spratt)

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Morning sun -

Another woman with a sleeve of tattoos in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(Photo by Keenan Constance)

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Morning light -

A sleeping tatted woman in Scotland, United Kingdom.

(Photo by Paul Johnston)

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Palm tree -

A minimalist tattoo on a woman in Wynwood, Miami, United States.

(Photo by giano currie)

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Warm light -

Another example of a minimalist tattoo on a man in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.

(Photo by Greta Schölderle Møller)

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Lovebirds -

A tatted man holds the hand of his loved one in Plage de Trousse-Chemise, France.

(Photo by Sweet Ice Cream Photography)

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Critters -

A woman with a bumblebee tattoo in Nashville, United States.

(Photo by Savs)

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Architectural - Minimalist tattoos of a triangle and lines. 

(Photo by Alex wong)

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Arcade -

A tatted man in an arcade in Cianorte, Brazil.

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Flowers -

Another tatted man from Cianorte, Brazil.

(Photo by Allef Vinicius)

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Hard Rock Cafe -

A tatted woman in Volta Redonda, Brazil.

(Photo by Talles Alves)

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Life is a beach -

A man with tattoos on his arm and back in Kelingking Tour, Indonesia.

(Photo by Marvin Meyer)

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Warm -

Finger tattoos on a woman in Provo, United States.

(Photo by Taylor Harding)

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Milk bath -

Flower tattoos on an arm in Boston, United States.

(Photo by Grace Madeline)

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Graffiti -

Colorful tattoos on a woman in São Paulo, Brazil.

(Photo by Lucaxx Freire)

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Fields -

A man with a tatted arm in Cianorte, Brazil.

(Photo by Allef Vinicius)

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National Geographic -

A body covered in tattoos in Miami Beach, United States.

(Photo by alan King)

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Capoeira -

A dancer with tattoos in Washington Square Park, New York, United States.

(Photo by Zac Ong)

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Elder -

An older tatted man in Walla Walla, United States.

(Photo by Emma Hall)

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Sunny day -

Chest tattoos on a woman in Plano, United States.

(Photo by Joey Nicotra)

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Profile - Face tattoos and neck tattos. 

(Photo by MILKOVÍ)

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Coordinates -

Coordinate tattoos on a woman in Folly Beach, United States.

(Photo by Cody Black)

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Cool -

Arm tattoos on a man in Lima, Peru.

(Photo by Sharon Garcia)

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Mother-daughter bonding -

A daughter and mother with a shoulder tattoo in Lynchburg, United States.

(Photo by Eye for Ebony)

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Dinnertime -

An upper arm tattoo on a woman in San Francisco, United States.

(Photo by Albert Dera)

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Swag -

A man with inked arms in Madre de Deus, Brazil.

(Photo by Caique Silva)

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Sleeves -

Another man with inked arms in Cianorte, Brazil.

(Photo by Allef Vinicius)

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Couple -

A man with tattooed stars on his arm. 

(Photo by Paloma A.)

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Skateboarder -

A skateboarder with tattoos in Tempe, United States.

(Photo by AJ Colores)

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Tats and accessories -

Tatted hands and arms in Rambouillet, France.

(Photo by Céline PREHER)

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Henna -

Head tattoo in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

(Photo by Ahmed Carter)

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Photo -

Hand tattoo in Oron-la-Ville, Switzerland.

(Photo by Samuel Zeller)

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Duo -

A couple with tattoos in Portland, United States.

(Photo by Emma Frances Logan)

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Beans - Tattoos and coffee. 

(Photo by Tyler Nix)

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Flowers - Sunflowers against a sleeve of flowers. 

(Photo by Annie Spratt)

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On the roof of a car - Counting money.

(Photo by Moses Vega)

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Lazy afternoons -

Two tatted men hang out in Paris, France.

(Photo by Etienne Boulanger)

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Pristine -

Minimalist tattoo on a woman in Lago di Tovel, Italy.

(Photo by Cristina Gottardi)

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Frontlines -

An inked officer on duty in Cincinnati, United States.

(Photo by Jordan Andrews)

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Milk bath -

A man with tattoos on his arm in Aurora, United States.

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Steps -

Another man with a sleeve of tattoos in Los Angeles, United States.

(Photo by MARK ADRIANE)

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Boxing -

Back tattoos on a man in London, Canada.

(Photo by Hermes Rivera)

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Tunnel -

Sleeve of tattoos in Los Angeles, United States.

(Photo by MARK ADRIANE)

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Fields -

Two sleeves in Ashton Court Mansion, Long Ashton, United Kingdom.

(Photo by Felix Russell-Saw)

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Amusement park -

Back and sleeve tattoos on a woman in Palm Beach, United States.

(Photo by Mohammad Faruque)

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Festival -

A woman with tattoos at a festival in Merritt, Canada.

(Photo by Michael Benz)

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Fighter -

A boxer with tattoos in New York, United States.

(Photo by Matheus Ferrero)

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Into the wild -

A full back of tattoos in Leafy Lane, Corsham, United Kingdom.

(Photo by Felix Russell-Saw)

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Fields -

A sleeve of tats in Bristol, United Kingdom.

(Photo by Felix Russell-Saw)

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