Plot

A tattoo artist with a careless attitude toward his wife's fidelity invites his talented friend to paint her portrait on his back and then teaches him to tattoo it there as a permanent memento. Decades later, this decision proves fateful.

In post-war Paris Drioli, an elderly down-and-out, sees a painting for sale by his old friend Soutine, who is now a best-selling artist. Thirty years earlier Soutine tattooed a portrait of Drioli's wife onto his back and it has become extremely valuable. But it is on his back and therefore worthless. How come it is eventually on public exhibition?—don @ minifie-1