If you like a message that’s got a lot of traditional symbolism, but with a clever ‘twist’ at the end, then Anatomical heart with flowers tattoos might be exactly the thing. You’ve got a clinical rendering of a classic symbol, as well as different meanings for different flowers, and that’s just the start of it.
In today’s article we’ll explore some of the possibilities, by looking at the history, the traditional meanings, and even the popular placement options for this unique and deeply significant design option. Let’s talk about Anatomical heart tattoos and what a difference the addition of flowers can make!
What is the History of Anatomical Heart with Flowers Tattoos?
While we don’t know when the first Anatomical Heart with Flowers tattoos were done, we can be certain that it was a long time ago. After all, Anatomical hearts have been a fascination of mankind for a very long time indeed – dating back as far as the 5th century Greece B.C.
During this time, Aristotle pondered on the heart and in the 2nd century B.C., the famous Greek doctor Galen was theorizing about its inner workings. Leonardo Da Vinci would come along much later and his studies from the 1500s are being Googled while you are actually reading this!
That sets a pretty good precedent, we think, for the argument that these tattoos have been around, but how do flowers get into the equation? Well, that’s actually the simplest part to explain, it turns out. Adding lovely flowers to a heart rendered ‘clinical’ just shows how much we equate the heart with love.
Those flowers are there to ‘warm it up’, so to speak, and to add yet more layers to the rich symbolism of the anatomical heart. That’s already a ‘deep’ tattoo and as you can add whatever you like, the possibilities are pretty mind-boggling indeed!
What Do Anatomical Heart with Flowers Tattoos Symbolize?
To understand the symbolism behind this kind of tattoo, we have to do much what the art has done to the heart – break it down to its parts.
First, we have the heart, long associated with love, but that in turn has been rendered more a thing of science by turning it into a collection of functions, rather than its traditional symbol. By adding flowers, you still get the symbolism of the anatomical rendering, but you’re also putting the love back into the science.
Thus, anatomical heart with flowers tattoos tend to say ‘love me, love my mind’ and imply that the owner believes in the ways of the heart, but they also believe in the proven science of it all. Even the type of flowers will be important in such a design.
For instance, red roses are flowers associated with love and the symbolism is pretty obvious, but if you have black roses or get a bit more subtle by adding Hyacinths, then you change the meaning to ‘my heart is dead’. It’s visually appearing, deep and direct (or sweetly subtle), and makes a fantastic option for truly memorable skin art.
What Do Anatomical Heart with Flowers Tattoos Mean?
Most commonly, Anatomical heart with flowers tattoos mean that the way to this person’s heart must include wooing their mind. While a standard heart depiction is all about love, by doing the anatomy route the owner is telling you something about themselves and what they believe.
Take close note of the flower too. Yellow flowers might mean that the person delights in anatomy and medical science, while the aforementioned roses and hyacinths could mean that love has been written off as a chemical process and not something magical.
An Anatomical heart with flowers could even indicate that the owner is an organ donator, with the flowers there to express that when they die, they will be giving the gift of life. It’s all about what you include in the imagery and the more carefully you select it, the more layered the meaning will be.
Where Do Anatomical Heart with Flowers Tattoos Usually Go?
The most common placement for Anatomical heart with flowers tattoos will be over the owner’s actual heart. There’s no rule about it, of course, and the next popular placement is on the upper, outer arm, so that the tattoo can get the attention it deserves.
Placed on the hip, this tattoo is much more intimate, and a good fit for those who are warm, but analytical, and very private about their hearts and their opinions.
Think about what you want to say and then decide how public you want your message to be, and the proper placement for you should quickly come to mind.
Characteristics and Styles of Anatomical Heart with Flowers Tattoos
While black and white depictions of an anatomical heart with flowers are out there, with the heart itself and with colorful flowers, color tattoos are the most popular varieties out there. They really make the design stick out and the combination of the clinical heart and the wild beauty of the flower really tickles the viewer’s mind.
This works in just about any style that you would like, though most often these are rendered to look like medical manuscripts, and sometimes even with specific cultures in mind – that’s the beauty of working with a subject that has captivated the world. The options that you have for your design are virtually endless.
Some final words on Anatomical heart and flower art
With the choice of an Anatomical heart with flowers, you really get the best of both worlds. You can incorporate the timeless symbolism of the heart, while also ‘bringing the mind to the party’, and then moving the final message back towards the heart with the addition of the flora.
It’s a message with overt and subtle aspects, so if you decide to create a tattoo of your own with an Anatomical heart and flowers, we highly recommend that you take your time with the design – with so much that you can potentially say, it would truly be a shame not to!
