Inked Mag Staff
May 19th, 2017
Portuguese Museum Displays Strips of Tattooed Human Skin
It Actually Isn’t as Creepy as It Sounds Although views on tattoos were at their most putrid levels in the early 1990s, plenty of people were still basking in ink.…
It Actually Isn’t as Creepy as It Sounds
Although views on tattoos were at their most putrid levels in the early 1990s, plenty of people were still basking in ink. With the popular misconception that the art of tattoo was reserved for the lowest of lowest in society – like criminals, low-lives, circus folks and ladies of the night – folks who were neither of the aforementioned opted to hide their marked skins. Little did they know that, almost a millennia later, crowds of people would be standing in front of a museum display ogling over their tattooed skins.
The MUDE museum in Lisbon, Portugal, proudly debuted “O Mais Profundo é a Pele” (translated into “The Deepest Thing is Skin”), an exhibit displaying 61 crystal encasements of tattooed human skin from people of the early 1900s with bios to go along with each skin of the person who once bore the tattoo.

Editor's Picks
Met Gala 2025: The Best Tattooed Celebrity Looks
At the 2025 Met Gala, inked celebrities like Rihanna, Cardi B, and Lewis Hamilton proved tattoos are the ultimate high-fashion accessory.
May the 4th Ink Be With You: Best Star Wars Tattoos for Superfans
Celebrate Star Wars Day with tattoos that showcase the Force—from Darth Vader portraits to minimalist Baby Yoda ink. May the ink be with you!
Diplo, Jelly Roll, Zach Bryan, and More: Highlights from Stagecoach 2025
Stagecoach 2025 delivered epic performances, unforgettable moments, and nonstop energy under the desert skies of Indio, California.