Chicano art smile now cry later
Chicano art smile now cry later
Smile now cry later picture.
Smile Now Cry Later Tattoo Ideas
Alongside the words “smile now, cry later,” the smiling and weeping pair of theater masks are common design examples of the quintessentially Chicano tattoo.
When Freddy Negrete first inked a “smile now, cry later” tattoo dedicated to the hard faces Mexican Americans had to wear in difficult circumstances, it is doubtful he knew how profound the impact would be.
Smile now cry later represents the need to hide weakness from enemies on the street and informs many of the designs utilized in Chicano tattooing.
For others collectors (I have the theater masks tattooed on my right shoulder blade in black and gray), tragedy/comedy is a reminder that life is full of ups and downs, and keeping an outwardly even keel is a good way of dealing with different emotions.
The following collection of smile now, cry later designs showcase the best in chicano tattooing and symbolic body art dedicated to these theater masks.