Inked Mag Staff

November 29th, 2021

60 Jovial Jester Tattoos

You'd be FOOLish not to want one of these tattoos.

Long before The Joker ruled Gotham or Pennywise terrified children in Derry, Maine, Jesters were the dominant performers of the court scene. Jesters were performers of noblemen and monarchs during the Medieval and Renaissance eras. They were known for wearing brightly colored clothing during performances and frequently wore a hat known as a cap and bells. These hats often featured ass’s ears and tails—which resembled donkeys. They were also often ornamented with bells and decorated in a Motley print. Motley has become synonymous with jesters, fools and harlequins, often featured a pattern of multi-colored diamonds.

Jesters of these eras often performed different skills, which ranged wildly depending on the performer. Some jesters were storytellers, jokesters or musicians. While others specialized in acrobatics, juggling and magic.

Throughout history, jesters have frequently been depicted in literature. One of the most prominent examples is in William Shakespeare’s “King Lear.” The Shakespearean fool was a reoccurring characters throughout his works, appearing in “The Comedy of Errors,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Twelfth Night,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “As You Like It.”

In honor of all the jesters of the past, present and future, take a look at 60 of our favorite jester tattoos from talented tattoo artists around the world. Then let us know if you’d get one of these tattoos in the comments section on social media.

 

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