Tattoo from Unicorn
I did this tattoo for @_niklahum, based on a detail from The Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries. The idea wasn’t mine—Nikla brought it to me, already thoughtful and precise about what they wanted. We focused on the fountain—tall, white, and intricate—surrounded by birds, quietly holding the center of the scene. It’s where the unicorn kneels, purifying the water with its horn.
The original tapestries were made in the late 15th or early 16th century, likely in the Southern Netherlands. No one knows exactly who commissioned them, but they were probably created for a noble family—maybe as a wedding gift or a symbol of devotion. Today, they’re housed at The Met Cloisters in New York, and honestly, they’re overwhelming in the best way. Woven from wool, silk, and silver threads, each panel is packed with detail and meaning.
The tapestry is full of tiny, thoughtful elements—medieval plants believed to cure poison, animals from all over the known world, and hunters off in the distance, just starting to realize what they’ve found. There’s so much happening, but what stuck with me was the stillness around the fountain. It feels like time slows down there—like it’s holding something sacred, without trying too hard to explain it.
Tattooing it was about leaning into that quiet. Every line needed to feel intentional. Not too rigid, not too soft. I wanted to keep the calm of the original, while still letting it breathe in the skin. That balance is something I’m always chasing—especially when the source material carries this much symbolism and history.
It’s just one detail in a much bigger story, but it carries its own weight. Myth, nature, and meaning, all layered into something small and still.
Jorge