Madame Boucard: a painting that stands on its own
The upper part of the arm is dedicated to Madame Boucard, a work by Tamara de Lempicka.
It is a powerful painting, an obvious one, instantly recognisable. A gaze, a posture, a presence. Exactly what I expect from a tattoo: that it can be seen from a distance and immediately understood.
A tattoo project that existed long before it was requested
I had carried this project for a long time. Initially, it was one of my first tattoos done on synthetic skin. It wasn’t a request, nor a project designed to be sold. I simply wanted to do it on someone. For myself. To see what it would truly look like on an arm.
When a personal project meets someone else’s story
Then Margot wrote to me. A client who, over time, became a friend. She told me she really liked this project, that it spoke to her. Then she came to the studio to have it done. During the session, she told me something that stayed with me:
“You know what’s crazy? My mother reproduced this painting herself.”
At that point, everything aligned. Without planning it, without looking for it. This tattoo I wanted to do for myself ended up connecting with her story, with her family. That’s the kind of thing that gives meaning to what I do.
Keeping the work faithful, making it live on the body
I did not modify the drawing. I kept the work faithful to the original painting. The only work focused on the arm composition: placing the image so it works on the body, remains readable, and keeps its strength through movement and time.
This Tamara de Lempicka tattoo project, and Madame Boucard in particular, is one of those that truly matter to me. Not for what it shows, but for the reason why it exists.
This project is part of a wider approach to Art Nouveau and Art Deco tattooing in London, a visual language that feels particularly at home in a city like London.
Who is Madame Boucard in relation to this tattoo project?
Madame Boucard is a portrait painted by Tamara de Lempicka. The artwork serves as the central image for this tattoo project, translated faithfully onto the upper arm.
Why was Madame Boucard chosen as a tattoo subject?
The painting carries a strong presence, posture and immediacy. It matches my approach to tattooing: creating images that are instantly recognisable and powerful on the body.
Was the original artwork modified for the tattoo?
No. The artwork remained faithful to the original. The only adaptation concerned the composition on the arm, to ensure readability, balance and durability over time.
What makes this tattoo project meaningful to you?
This project connects personal intention with the client’s own family history. What began as a personal artistic project became a shared story, which gives the tattoo its deeper meaning.
