Russian Prison Tattoos: Codes of Authority, Domination, and Struggle

A collection of different Russian prison inmate tattoos and their meanings.

For centuries, Russian prison inmates forcibly initiated newcomers with tattoos. Gradually, prisoners developed a secret form of communication with their tattoos, allowing them to establish rank among the other inmates and maintain a clandestine hierarchy.

This book explores the grisly reality of Russian prisons and the people who inhabit them. Over 190 black and white and color photographs expose the different t...