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TattooLog

References, processes and ideas that guide my tattoo work. It’s a space to give context and clarity to the style and the thinking behind the designs.

 

Rabbit rules• for Jacob

I did this tattoo for my dear friend Jacob from Leipzig—he’s actually the one who first brought this strange bit of medieval imagery to my attention.

I know it sounds a little wild, but these armed bunnies show up all over medieval manuscripts, often hidden in the margins. Tiny, chaotic scenes where rabbits chase knights, swing swords, or hunt people with dogs. It’s weird, playful—and somehow still feels powerful.

No one’s totally sure what they were meant to represent, which is honestly part of what I love about them. Some say they’re a kind of medieval joke—turning the world upside down, making the prey into the predator. Others see them as satire, poking fun at fear or flipping social roles. And sometimes, they’re just nonsense for the sake of it. Doodles. Jokes. Maybe even a quiet little rebellion scribbled into the edges of holy texts.

I’m always drawn to imagery like this—strange little corners of history with layers of meaning and a sense of humor. This rabbit came from one of those manuscripts, and even though it’s hundreds of years old, it still feels alive. Like it’s winking at us. Like it’s totally in on the joke.

Medieval killer rabbit
For Jacob • From a 14th-century manuscript

Jorge

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