There are a lot of images and subjects out there that can simultaneously inspire both fear and happiness depending on the person you ask. For example, some people love snakes while others are deathly afraid of them. Spiders are the same way. Some people keep them as pets and others won’t go within 50 feet of one. There are a lot of examples of this but one thing that stands out to us something that invokes fear in one breath and happiness in the other is the clown.

The clown has long inspired fear and happiness and some people, regardless of how they feel about clowns, choose to encapsulate them in a tattoo on their body for many years. Clowns are fascinating and they have a very interesting history in our world. They have had a history of being terrifying but also inspiring fun and happiness. This is what makes the clown tattoo so unique. You can take this tattoo in any direction you feel.

In this post we are going to talk about the clown tattoo meaning and what it symbolizes for that that decide to have the image tattooed on their body. We will also address the history of the clown and talk about how it got the reputation that it did. By the end of this post, we hope you get your fill on the clown tattoo meaning information and have a better understanding of the history of the clown itself.

Clown Tattoo Meaning

The image of clowns invokes the concepts of fear and horror in many, just as it brings the feeling of joy and fond memories in others. Clowns are a symbol recognizable all over the globe and often bring to mind the circus in its many forms throughout the years, although they are often imaged alone when rendered as a tattoo design. Clown images generally break down into three subgenres and are often taken from television, film, and literature. The most popular is the scary clown taken from horror that seeks to disturb and frighten, like Stephen King’s It. The sad clown is another contrary image, taking what was meant to bring happiness and presenting it as unhappy. The last is the more traditional laughing clown that performs in the circus and children’s birthday parties, bringing balloons and joy. All three concepts are a symbol of projection and façade, considering the person beneath the face paint and costume. The clown is a representation of the performer hidden beneath, whether positive or negative.