Moyamensing Prison 1840

Editor: This is “Moyamensing Prison,” a lithograph, etching and drawing by John T. Bowen, dating back to 1840. The scene looks quite stark, almost like a stage set. The architecture has an imposing, theatrical quality, I would say. What is your interpretation of this piece? Curator: The depiction of Moyamensing Prison reflects a broader societal fascination and anxiety surrounding crime and punishment in the 19th century United States. Notice how Bowen renders the prison with almost classical dignity; the stark realism, with the imposing facade, serves to convey the institution's power. But also consider the publishing context. Editor: How do you mean, the publishing context? Curator: This print, like many others, was intended for public consumption. Images of prisons like this served multiple purposes: they reassured the public that crime was being addressed, but they also contributed to a growing visual culture that pathologized deviancy and reinforced existing social hierarchies. The choice of portraying it like a kind of fortress suggests a sense of social control, and even national pride. Editor: It’s interesting to think about how images themselves play a role in constructing ideas about criminality and justice. I guess it also puts into perspective how views of the prison system as it appeared then shaped policies regarding those incarcerated within it. Curator: Precisely! Bowen’s print allows us to glimpse not only the physical structure of a 19th-century prison, but also the prevailing social and political ideologies surrounding it. Editor: Thank you for this informative point of view; it is intriguing how much context informs how an image's intentions and its impact changed with cultural shifts and beliefs. Curator: A good point. Thank you for helping me to sharpen that insight.