Sacco and Vanzetti in Art

A number of artists have reinterpreted the Sacco and Vanzetti trial.  Below are a number of examples of the ways in which various artists have examined issues such as freedom of speech, wrongful imprisonment, class politics, and the death penalty through examination of the case.

This mosaic by Ben Shahn, entitled the Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti, was installed at Syracuse University in New York in 1967.  It tells the story of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial, and represents the  major individuals in the trial.

Source: http://emc.syr.edu/tour/TOUR10.HTM

 

Ben Shahn also produced this poster to protest Sacco and Vanzetti's execution.  It includes Bartolomeo's famous last statement before his execution.

In this painting, Shahn portrays the witnesses who testifies that Bartolomeo Vanzetti was selling them eels on the day of the South Braintree crime.

Source: http://www.yale.edu/artgallery/exhibitions/2002_saccovanzetti.htm

Source:
http://www.assumption.edu/users/McClymer/his394/sacco and vanzetti/default.html


 

Free Sacco and Vanzetti Poster.

Source:
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/SaccoV/frees&vposter.jpg


 


 

 

Woody Guthrie's album inspired by the trial.
Sacco & Vanzetti Cover

 

 

 

 



Source: http://www.folkways.si.edu/40060.htm

Gustav Borglum's plaque commemorating the trial
borglum





Source: http://www.saccovanzettiproject.org/pages/chronology.htm

 


 


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