Sit Back and Relax, Eastern State Penitentiary

by Anthony Hightower

Title

Sit Back and Relax, Eastern State Penitentiary

Artist

Anthony Hightower

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Sunlight streams through a narrow skylight, casting dramatic light on the decaying walls of a historic, brick-lined cell at Eastern State Penitentiary. An abandoned and weathered barber's chair sits in the center, adding a sense of history and neglect to the eerie scene.

Closed in 1970, the Eastern State Penitentiary was all but abandoned, falling into disrepair until stabilization and preservation efforts began in 1991. Today, the prison sits in a state of suspended deterioration, displaying its preserved patina as it tells an important story to its many captivated visitors.

Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world's first true "penitentiary," a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of prisoners. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells held nearly 85,000 people over its long history, including bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton and "Scarface" Al Capone.

Uploaded

April 21st, 2024

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