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American Prison Life, Blackwell's Island, New York: Dinner-Time, 1876. Creator: Unknown
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American Prison Life, Blackwell's Island, New York: Dinner-Time, 1876. Creator: Unknown
American Prison Life, Blackwell's Island, New York: Dinner-Time, 1876....the inmates, who are here treated with compulsory hospitality, must take their mid-day meal upon the conditions prescribed by its ordinary rules. They have to pick up their loaves of bread from a heap protected by the railing shown in Mr. Regamey's sketch, so as to avoid the greedy scramble which might be expected in a company whose manners are likely to be as bad as their morals...There must be a certain degree of strictness in the domestic habits of this large household on Blackwell's Island, which is perhaps not quite agreeable to some of its visitors. But it is by their own fault that they find themselves lodgers and boarders there'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876
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Media ID 36345750
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Bread Canteen Chain Chains Convict Convicts Dining Room Dinner Felix Elie Regamey Felix Régamey Island Leg Irons Lunch Luncheon Lunchtime Meal Mealtime Penitentiary Prison Prison Officer Prisoner Prisoners Punishment Queue Queuing Rations Regamey Felix Regamey Felix Elie Roosevelt Island Shackle Shackled Shackles Stripe Striped Stripes Uniforms Welfare Island Breadline
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This image, entitled "American Prison Life, Blackwell's Island, New York: Dinner-Time, 1876," offers a glimpse into the daily life of inmates at the notorious Blackwell's Island Penitentiary in New York City. The photograph, created by an unknown artist, likely a European visitor, presents a stark contrast to the idealized notions of American life during the 19th century. The inmates, dressed in tattered clothing, are seen queuing up for their mid-day meal, with loaves of bread in hand, picked up from a heap guarded by a railing. The strict order and discipline of the dining room are evident, as the men adhere to the rules set forth by the prison authorities. The presence of chains and leg irons serves as a grim reminder of the punishments meted out to those who transgressed. The scene depicted in this engraving, published in the "Illustrated London News," highlights the compulsory hospitality offered to the inmates. The strictness in the domestic habits of this large household on Blackwell's Island may not be agreeable to some visitors, but it is a consequence of the inmates' own actions that led them to become lodgers and boarders in this penal institution. This evocative image, with its monochromatic palette and intricate details, offers a poignant insight into the living conditions of the convicts during the Victorian era. The use of chains and leg irons, the breadline, and the stark interior of the dining room serve as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of prison life in 19th century America.
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