Collection: Cornelis van Haarlem

Cornelis van Haarlem (1562–1638) filled his paintings with twisting bodies, exaggerated muscles, dramatic gestures, and scenes drawn from mythology and the Bible. There’s something almost theatrical in the way his figures collide, stretch, and occupy the frame.

For tattoo inspiration, that means powerful anatomy, unusual poses, expressive faces, and fragments of late-Renaissance drama that work surprisingly well when isolated from the original painting.