The heart has been a common tattoo element since the early days of the Western tradition, but a black heart tattoo takes the symbolism commonly associated with this classic design and turns it on its head.
Black heart tattoos are not the common red heart ideograph displayed on Valentine’s Day cards that can be given this Stygian makeover: many people also choose anatomical heart designs applied in jet black ink.
Each of the black heart tattoo ideas in this gallery shows what is possible when the most vital of human organs is reproduced in this monochromatic approach.
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1. Tattoo for Men
A heart tattoo isn’t just a cute design for women. This is especially true for a black heart tattoo and the more complex symbolism they represent. Many men choose a black heart tattoo as a way to embrace the pain and sorrow of a lost loved one, or a suspicion of love and romance in general.
The variety of heart design tattooing in this gallery are great examples of what is possible with this interesting design concept as inspiration.
2. Tattoo for Women
Men aren’t the only ones that use a black heart tattoo to represent their feelings of a loss and grief. For many women, a black heart tattoo is the perfect choice to display their feelings about love and romance; for others a black heart tattoo can be a memorial to the death of a loved one.
Whatever the meaning behind the heart shape design, each black heart tattoo in this gallery demonstrates just how compelling these pieces can be.
3. Broken Heart Tattoo Ideas
Some people choose to add another layer of symbolism in their black heart tattoo by “breaking” the heart. Some black heart tattoo designs here use a classic “crack” down the center of the heart, while others pierce the central tattoo idea with a sword or nail.
One interesting piece applies a black heart as a matching tattoo, demonstrating the wearer’s status as “best friends”. Here, each tattoo artist uses a unique approach to complete these meaningful tattoo artwork designs.
4. Realistic Anatomical Heart Tattoo Ideas
Not every black heart tattoo utilizes the classic ideograph in its depiction of love lost, pain and grief. Many people choose a realistic approach to produce their amazing tattoo idea, and these are some great examples of what is possible with this anatomical style.
The tattooist has created an interesting art effect in several of these pieces by incorporating surreal concepts-an anatomical black heart in a bottle is one example-with realistic depictions.
5. Tattoo Ideas Using Simple Outlines
Not everyone wants intricate details in their tattoos. In fact, many people choose a simple, outline approach for their black heart tattoo design, with some appealing results.
A black heart tattoo is a great choice for this approach thanks to the complex symbolism associated with this simple design. This approach also allows artists to incorporate other design elements like a lemniscate or crescent moon.
6. Small Tattoo Ideas
While the eye catching effect of large, intricate pieces by star tattoo artists is undeniable, some people prefer their ink to be a more subtle small heart. Thanks to the instantly recognizable heart shape and the simplicity of the design, a black heart tattoo is especially appropriate for this small tattoo approach.
Though each black heart tattoo in this gallery takes a slightly different approach, they all demonstrate how successfully these designs can be applied on a small scale, whether it’s representing the demise of a whirlwind romance on the left ring finger, or simple heart on a wrist.
7. Solid Ink Ideas
Just as some people want a highly detailed depiction of an anatomical black heart, others prefer a simple heart created by stark black ink. Some of the tattoos here incorporate a black heart into a larger design-the Sacred Heart and heart and cross bones are excellent examples-while other designs let the bold, black shape speak for itself.
Whatever the approach, each black heart tattoo in this collection demonstrates just how appealing this shape can be when applied in pitch-black black tones.
8. American/Neo-Traditional Tattoo Designs
American traditional designs have been around for over a century and neo-traditional work by talented artists picks up the “bold will hold” torch and takes this classic style to the next level. Straight forward and timeless, each black heart tattoo in this collection varies in the concept and significance behind the design, but they all maintain the indispensable elements that define these quintessential tattoo styles.
FAQs
What does a black heart tattoo represent?
Just as a heart represents love, a black heart tattoo usually symbolizes a lost love-whether family or romantic-as well as being a common symbol of grief and mourning.
What does an anatomical black heart tattoo represent?
Similarly to the familiar heart ideograph, an anatomical black heart tattoo may often have more diverse meanings, although they are almost always symbols of some form of loss or grief.
How much does a black heart tattoo cost?
Tattoo prices vary depending on a number of factors and these are a few of the variables that will influence the price of a black heart tattoo.
- Tattoo artists charge by the hour, usually starting around $50/hour and going all the way up to over $300 for highly experienced, in demand artists in busy locations.
- The size of the piece is the biggest determining factor for a black heart tattoo.
- The amount of detail in a black heart tattoo will also affect the price: as the intricacy of a design increases so does the cost.
- Full color tattoos are usually more expensive than black work so this will positively affect the price of a black heart tattoo.
Also, a good method for those unsure whether to go large or small and spend on a tattoo can take a temporary tattoo test run. A temporary tattoo can be really useful if you’re unsure about size, style, and placement of many types of design, include a tribal heart tattoo, angel wings, sacred heart tattoo, a dagger or Claddagh Celtic heart tattoo.
Did you enjoy these examples of black heart tattoo design? Click on the links below for more heart symbol tattoo gallery ideas: