Correctional Facility Collection

American prison life, 1850
3479365 American prison life, 1850; (add.info.: American prison life: New York City house of correction, Blackwell's Island. Convicts on outdoor work.); Universal History Archive/UIG

American prison life, 1850
3479367 American prison life, 1850; (add.info.: American prison life: New York City house of correction, Blackwell's Island. Convicts returning from outdoor work.); Universal History Archive/UIG

American prison life, 1850
3479366 American prison life, 1850; (add.info.: American prison life: New York City house of correction, Blackwell's Island.); Universal History Archive/UIG

American prison life, 1850
3479364 American prison life, 1850; (add.info.: American prison life: New York City house of correction, Blackwell's Island. The dining room.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Tour du Temple, c. 1795. Creator: Anonymous
Tour du Temple, c. 1795. Found in the collection of the Musee Carnavalet, Paris

The Madelonnettes Prison, c. 1810. Creator: Boilly, Louis-Leopold (1761-1845)
The Madelonnettes Prison, c. 1810. Found in the collection of Musee Carnavalet, Paris

The prisoners of Saint-Lazare, ca 1794. Creator: Robert, Hubert (1733-1808)
The prisoners of Saint-Lazare, ca 1794. Found in the collection of Musee Carnavalet, Paris

Corridor of the Saint-Lazare Prison, c. 1793. Creator: Robert, Hubert (1733-1808)
Corridor of the Saint-Lazare Prison, c. 1793. Found in the collection of Musee Carnavalet, Paris

A Questioning of a Prisoner, c. 1630. Creator: Codde, Pieter (1599-1678)
A Questioning of a Prisoner, c.1630. Found in the Collection of Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava

The Zindan (Prison), 1930s. Creator: Bure, Leon (Lev) Leonardovich (1887-1943)
The Zindan (Prison), 1930s. Found in the Collection of Regional I. Savitsky Art Museum, Nukus

Cossacks convoying deportees, 1831. Artist: Anonymous
Cossacks convoying deportees, 1831. From a private collection

From the series The Imaginary Prisons (Le Carceri d Invenzione). Found in the Collection of State Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Tasso in the Prison, 1853. Found in the collection of State Hermitage, St. Petersburg

The Prisoner of Chillon. Artist: Delacroix, Eugene (1798-1863)
The Prisoner of Chillon. Found in the collection of Louvre, Paris

The Drawbridge. From the series The Imaginary Prisons (Le Carceri d Invenzione). Private Collection

Before the Confession, 1879-1885. Artist: Repin, Ilya Yefimovich (1844-1930)
Before the Confession, 1879-1885. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

An Arrant Knave (Arrested person), 1873. Artist: Perov, Vasili Grigoryevich (1834-1882)
An Arrant Knave (Arrested person), 1873. Found in the collection of the State History Museum, Moscow

A Resting Place of Prisoners, 1878-1879. Artist: Vereshchagin, Vasili Vasilyevich (1842-1904)
A Resting Place of Prisoners, 1878-1879. Found in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, New York

A boy shot by a Prussian gendarme escaping from a correctional facility, 1900. An illustration from Le Petit Journal, 4th March 1900

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"Exploring the Evolution of Correctional Facilities Through Art" Step back in time and witness the transformation of correctional facilities through captivating artworks. The Madelonnettes Prison, depicted by Louis-Leopold Boilly in 1810, offers a glimpse into the lives of incarcerated women during that era. Meanwhile, Hubert Robert's portrayal of "The prisoners of Saint-Lazare" in 1794 sheds light on the harsh realities faced by those confined within its walls. As we venture further into history, Pieter Codde's painting from 1630 captures a momentous questioning of a prisoner, emphasizing the judicial aspect within these institutions. Moving forward to the 1930s, Leon Bure's depiction of "The Zindan (Prison)" transports us to an Eastern setting where confinement took on different forms. Not limited to physical structures alone, anonymous artists portray Cossacks convoying deportees in 1831—a reminder that prisons extend beyond mere buildings. Giovanni Battista Piranesi's imaginative series "The Imaginary Prisons" takes us into surreal realms where incarceration becomes abstract and thought-provoking. Literature also plays a role in shaping our perception of correctional facilities; Eugene Delacroix's artwork depicting "The Prisoner of Chillon" brings Lord Byron's poem to life with vivid emotion and turmoil. Similarly, Ilya Repin's painting titled "Before the Confession" immerses us in a tense atmosphere as we witness an inmate preparing for his confession. Vasili Perov adds another layer to this narrative with his piece entitled "An Arrant Knave, " highlighting society’s judgment towards arrested individuals during Russia’s tumultuous times. These artworks remind us that behind every prison door lies stories waiting to be told—stories filled with despair, resilience, and hope for redemption. Through these remarkable works spanning centuries, we gain insight into how correctional facilities have evolved, reflecting societal attitudes towards punishment and rehabilitation.