Skin Summary

After the war in Paris, a poor man called Drioli wanders the streets and sees a picture that reminds him of a friend he had decades ago. A tattoo artist, Drioli had had a particularly good day and came home to his wife, Josie, and his friend, whom they called Kalmuck, whom Drioli had met in a cafe. After this good day at work, Drioli has bought a lot of wine, and the trio get drunk. Drioli decides that he wants a picture by his friend, a talented artist, that will last forever, and convinces him to tattoo a portrait onto his back, which his friend finally does and signs. Later, Josie is killed in the war, and Kalmuck moves away, and has apparently become a famous artist. In the present day, Drioli enters the gallery and tells his story. Though he is...