An old street beggar, a former tattooist, was a friend of the famous artist, Soutine. On his back, he has a tattoo by the artist, which is now priceless.
Years earlier, Drioli knew a Russian painter named Soutine. On a whim, he had Soutine paint a portait of his wife Josie on his back, and then taught the artist his own specialty, tattooing.
Using that new skill, Soutine tattooed over his painting, preserving the art for all time.
Time passes, and Drioli has fallen on back luck. His wife died during the war and no one seems to want tattoos any longer.
Now a vagrant living from garbage cans, Drioli realizes what he has when he sees an exhibition of Soutine's work in a gallery.
Revealing his tattoo, he faces a choice between a man who will pay him a small fortune to have the skin removed from his back, and another man who will treat him to a life of luxury at a hotel, where all he'll have to do is wear bathing trunks so that guests may view a "living work of art."
His choice seems clear, but is it?