The Four Prosecutors - Sacco-Vanzetti Case 1932

Ben, born in 1935, painted this damning image of the "The Four Prosecutors – Sacco-Vanzetti Case" using thin layers of oil paint on canvas. Ben’s brushstrokes are economical, almost caricaturist. The suits of the prosecutors are rendered with such dark and opaque paint, that it is difficult to find much form or texture. Only a few details such as the watch chain of the third man from the left, and the men’s ties, stand out against the dark clothing. The backdrop of red bricks provides a stark contrast to the men’s pale faces, which appear ghostly and unnatural against this very man-made backdrop. The use of oil on canvas lends the scene a sense of immediacy. The visible brushstrokes and thin layers of paint add to the raw emotion of the image. Ben's direct, unrefined approach to painting serves to underscore the power dynamics at play in the Sacco-Vanzetti case, reminding us that art can be a potent tool for social commentary.