It seems like the light bulb has been used as symbolism for a great idea for many years. From our cartoons to movies, the light bulb has seems to have been the physical representation of a creative idea. I’m sure you remember when Bugs Bunny (or your favorite cartoon character) came up with a plan and the light bulb emerges above his head representing this idea. However, the symbol has additional meanings as well and can be modified to represent new and different meanings. In order to represent these meanings, some decide on getting a tattoo.

In this post we will talk about the light bulb and the history behind it. We will go through the meanings and designs of the light bulb tattoo and talk about why some people decide they want to get the image immortalized on their body. We will also talk about different light bulb tattoo variations and what they mean to the people wearing them. We hope that by the end of this post you have a better understanding of the symbolism behind the light bulb tattoo.

Light Bulb Facts

To understand the meaning of the light bulb symbolism, we need to know a bit about the light bulb itself.

For years, the only way to illuminate your home or place of business was by candles or lanterns. The downfall of lanterns and candle lit homes was the fires that were caused by it. There was a period of electric arc lighting but that was far too bright for small areas, so a new light needed to be created. A smaller light that could work in all cases. In 1880, Thomas Edison patented the first incandescent light bulb to be used commercially.

Many probably don’t know this but there were twenty-three different light bulbs invented before Edison developed his. The idea behind the light bulb was to send an electric current that was powerful enough to create a glow on the filament but not too strong as to create combustion. And this was the hard part about creating a light bulb that could be used for long periods of time. The people that had invented light bulbs before Edison usually dealt with trying to find an inexpensive filament that could produce light for any amount of time.